Speed

  • Excessive speed is the single biggest cause of deaths on roads. Drivers who speed crash more often than those who do not.
  • Ensure all staff (including all managers) understand that the organisation expects everyone who drives for work to drive safely.
  • Ensure employees' schedules can be achieved without speeding; avoid strict arrival times if possible. Ask drivers to stop somewhere safe and ring ahead rather than speed to meet an appointment time.
  • Ensure that speed limiters are set to the required maximum (56mph for trucks and 62.5mph for buses and coaches) for commercial vehicles and consider fitting variable speed limiters that your staff can set to the appropriate maximum as they enter a particular speed limit.
  • Educate your employees who drive for work about the dangers of speed and make them aware that your company does not tolerate speeding. Ensure they know:
    • It is the company's policy for all drivers to always comply with all speed limits.
    • Exceeding posted speed limits, and gaining speeding points on your licence is a disciplinary offence.
    • The risks of driving too fast on different types of road including, in particular, in towns and on rural roads.
    • The importance of keeping a safe distance from other vehicles.
    • The benefits of slowing down (less dangerous, less stressful and smoother journey without a significantly later arrival time).