What is road risk assessment?

Road risk assessment applies the standard risk assessment approach to the many hazards associated with driving for work, including journey length, allowing enough time for the journey, arrangements to take a break, driving posture, route choice, thinking of alternatives to driving.

RoSPA has played a key role in encouraging employers to take a 'risk management' approach to occupational road risk. It recommends the following key steps:

Step 1: Audit vehicle usage, accidents and their costs

Employers should audit the following information:

• The number of vans, lorries and essential or casual car users.
• Journeys – current mileage by types of vehicle, length of journeys.
• Date, time, place of accidents, severity of injuries.
• Annual cost of insurance, repairs and absences from work following road accidents.

Step 2: Carry out a risk assessment

In occupational safety, a hazard is something that has the potential to cause harm. Risk is the likelihood that that harm will arise from a hazard. RoSPA recommends using a scoring system to highlight issues of highest concern.

We have produced a table, adapted from the RoSPA report, Managing Occupational Road Risk, which you can download in rft format here.

Step 3: Introduce safety and control measures

Many of these ideas are also sound advice for the individual driver:

• Eliminate unnecessary journeys, and consider alternative means of communication. Change mode of transport; for example, take the train, then a bus or taxi.
• Avoid driving in adverse conditions, at night, or in poor weather.
• Reduce distances – set maximum driving distances per day, per week, per year.
• Control drivers' hours. Set upper limits for driving hours each day, week, and month.
• Specify safest routes.
• Specify safer vehicles.
• Set driver capability standards, for example, by requiring drivers to pass an advanced driving test, paid for by the employer.
• Require regular eyesight tests. The legal visual standard for a car or motorbike driver is to be able to read a number plate at 20.5 metres, with glasses if worn.
• Set clear policies on alcohol and other substances.
• Prohibit the use of mobile phones, including hands-free sets, whilst on the move.