Driving and Vehicle Management
Assessing Risks on the Road

Driving and Vehicle Management

Assessing Risks on the Road

Manager and Driver Responsibilities

Journeys by road should be undertaken only once alternatives have been explored, for example; telephone conference, use of couriers to send equipment, use of local staff, rearrange meeting location etc.

Driving should only be considered as means of transport once other types have been considered.

Risk assessments for any work- related driving activity should follow the same principles as risk assessments for any other work activity.

Look for the hazards which may cause harm when driving, the range of these will be wide and the main areas to think about are the driver, the vehicle and the journey.

Decide who might be harmed, the driver, passengers, other road users ad pedestrians, while also identifying at risk groups for example newly qualified drivers.

Evaluate the risk and decide whether existing precautions are adequate or more should be done. You need to consider how likely it is that each hazard will cause harm. This will determine whether or not you need to do more to reduce the risk. It is likely that some risks will remain even after all precautions are taken. What you have to decide for each significant hazard is whether the remaining risk is acceptable.

Ask yourself whether you can eliminate the hazard;

hold a telephone or videoconference instead of making people travel to a meeting.

consider alternative means of transport; e.g. Train
avoid situations where employees feel under pressure due to time constraints, e.g. very early call times
schedule to avoid unreasonable journey times

Record your findings according to the BBC risk assessment process ensuring:

proper checks were made;
you consulted those who might be affected;
you dealt with all the foreseeable hazards.