Safe Schedules & Routes

  • Devise safe schedules and routes.  Journey scheduling and routing should take account of factors such as:
    • Road type, hazards (e.g. low bridges)
    • Traffic densities (e.g. congestion) and hold-ups (e.g. road works)
    • Anticipated delays at destination
    • Adverse weather
    • Accident black spots and high risk areas such as towns and winding rural roads
    • Speed limits.
  • Night time driving should be reduced or prohibited if possible; ideally driving should be avoided in the high risk hours when a driver is most likely to fall asleep (early morning, between midnight and 6am and early afternoon between 2pm and 4 pm). 
  • Try to avoid busy routes at the beginning of the shift.
  • Schedules should allow time for unexpected delays; move away from strict time routing.
  • Monitor and plan for annual leave to reduce driver shortages.