DfBB Leads Driver Safety Zone at Conference

3rd February 2022

HELP IS AT HAND FOR ANYONE WHO DRIVES FOR WORK;
DfBB LEADS DRIVER SAFEETY ZONE AT CONFERENCE

Managing driver risk is one of the primary concerns for safety professionals and so the Driver Safety Zone is set to be a highly prominent hub of activity and advice at the Health and Safety Event 5-7 April, 2022 – NEC Hall 4, Birmingham.

The team from Driving for Better Business (DfBB) will be out in force to support those responsible for managing driver safety. The Driver Safety Zone and Theatre includes a lively conference to provide comprehensive guidance on driving and riding safely for work. This has changed dramatically in recent years with a booming gig economy and the steady increase in grey fleet use. The pandemic has accelerated the growth in online shopping and delivery, and vehicle technology continues to evolve, making driving both safer and more complex.

“On top of all this, we have revisions to the Highway Code coming into force this month which means HGVs, buses, vans, taxis and cars are subject to a new road-user hierarchy that gives the highest priority to those who are considered most at risk: pedestrians and cyclists, children, older adults and people with disabilities,” says Simon Turner, Campaign Manager for Driving for Better Business. “For those who manage occupational road risk, there’s a lot to learn, and a lot to communicate to your drivers. We’re here to share resources, provide support and encouragement and help find any gaps in current operations.”

In the Driver Safety Theatre, there will be a great line up of expert speakers to inform delegates, who come from a community of over 120,000 safety professionals.

A packed programme [https://www.healthandsafetyevent.com/driver-safety-zone] over the three days covers:

  • Revisions to the Highway Code that affect those driving for work
  • Driver training requirements for van drivers/young drivers
  • Providing strong safety leadership in your organisation
  • Driver distraction
  • Driver communication
  • Driver health and wellbeing
  • Driver fatigue
  • Understanding legal responsibilities
  • Good practice case studies

Speakers include Nina Day from HSE on the personal responsibility within the transport chain, Mark Soden from Cleartrack Performance on lessons from professional sport that can help improve safety leadership, experts in the field of managing driver distraction, fatigue and wellbeing, plus some of the most experienced driver safety managers sharing their stories and answering your questions.

And it’s not all talk:

Visitors to the Driver Safety Zone will be able to take part in live demonstrations on how to make sure your drivers are performing their daily vehicle checks properly. With almost half of all vans failing their MOTs at the first attempt, this is vital information on how to ensure your vehicles are roadworthy at all times.

Simon Turner says: “For most people, driving will be the highest-risk activity they do while at work. One in three road collisions in Britain involves someone driving as part of their job – plus many more involving people travelling to or from their place of work. The Health and Safety at Work Act requires employers to take appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees and others who may be affected by their activities when at work. This applies when driving in the same way as it does in the workplace.

“But there is also a very strong business case for managing work-related road safety. Fewer road incidents mean fewer days lost to injury; fewer repairs to vehicles with vehicles out of action; fewer missed orders and overall reduced running costs. Now is the time to become better informed and start getting the benefits of better practice.”

“Driving for Better Business is also bringing together a range of expert partners to help provide content in the theatre and support visitors. Exhibitors in the Driver Safety Zone area include FleetCheck, IAM RoadSmart, Westcotec. The Driver Safety Zone at this year’s Health and Safety Event is the place to be if you want the latest advice on guidance from real experts on how to manage driver safety effectively.”

Presentations and panel discussions will be recorded to be shared after the event.

 

Media contact: Hadstrong https://hadstrong.com/ Becky Hadley on 07733 054839

 

About Driving for Better Business

Driving for work is one of the highest-risk activities that many employees undertake, whether they drive a commercial vehicle, a company car or make occasional work journeys in their own vehicle. As the gig economy continues to grow, this also means those who ride for work as well as those who drive.

Driving for Better Business is a free to access government-backed National Highways programme, delivered in partnership with RoadSafe, to help employers in the private and public sectors reduce work-related road risk, protecting staff who drive or ride for work, and others who they may share the road with.

Our mission is to improve the levels of compliance for all those who drive or ride for work by demonstrating the significant business benefits of managing work-related road risk more effectively. https://www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/