RoadSafe to expand ‘Business Champions’ programme
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ROADSAFE is to expand the ‘business champions’ programme in 2008 by targeting a wide-range of companies and business organisations...
Caroline Scurr is pictured at last year’s CV Show launching the ‘Driving For Better Business’ programme with (from left): Mercedes-Benz van marketing manager David Higson, Chelmsford Electrical company secretary Peter Locke and MD Ken Tillbrook
Last year pilot projects under the Government’s ‘Driving for Better Business’ initiative were launched with Cambridgeshire County Council, Devon County Council, the Electrical Contracts’ Association and the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers. While, initial inroads have been made in helping businesses improve their occupational road risk management in a bid to cut the weekly toll of around 200 road deaths and serious injuries from work-replace driving, the programme will now be ramped up.
‘Driving for Better Business’ is the Government’s umbrella programme for improving occupational road risk management and thereby reducing the number of crashes involving at-work drivers. The ‘Business Champions’ initiative is a crucial feature of the initiative that sees organisations that have adopted best practice policies and procedures become role models for other organisations.
Programme manager Caroline Scurr said: “On the basis of lessons learned from the pilot schemes we intend to expand the network of employer champions nationwide to promote good practice to bring about a reduction in death and injuries caused by cars and vans used for business purposes.”
Targeted
Initially, Britain’s 20 largest contract hire and leasing companies are being targeted to encourage them and some of their customers to join the initiative. In addition, FTSE250 companies are to be approached with the aim of uncovering potential ‘Business Champions’; and an increased number of trade association are also to be approached to become involved.
Ms Scurr said: “We are focused on building a wider network of supporters and partners; recruiting further quality champions and supporting our existing champions by encouraging them to promote their excellent work by speaking at conferences and seminars.
“We are aiming to develop the programme away from its road safety basis towards engagement with directors about management priorities for dealing with the issues associated with business travel, particularly the safety of its employees.”
Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: “I would encourage any company, public or voluntary sector organisation to take up the baton, because road safety should be important for all of us.”
The success of the Cambridgeshire County Council programme of seminars will, for example, see RoadSafe work with LARSOA (Local Authority Road Safety Officers’ Association) to encourage more local authorities to promote similar initiatives. Meanwhile, Lancashire County Council has entered into a partnership with RoadSafe to tie the ‘Driving for Better Business Programme’ into its existing ‘Make the Difference Campaign’.
And Gateshead Council is exploring how it can join the ‘Driving for Better Business’ programme as a ‘business champion’ for local authorities with the intention of setting up a regional forum involving the 24 local authorities in the North East of England.
Involve
Separately, in bid to involve even more companies in the ‘Driving for Better Business’ programme, organisations such as the CBI, British Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors are to be approached.
Meanwhile, around 425 ‘Driving for Better Business’ education packs have been distributed to employees attending driver improvement and speed awareness courses operated by Devon County Council in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. The hope was that those packs would be passed on to their employers.
Free copies
This year, Devon County Council is to offer free copies of the Highway Agency’s workrelated road safety DVD upon application. A total of 500 copies have been ordered and the requests – requiring a business return address – will help the council to track meaningful take-up.
Later this year, decisions will be made on whether or not to roll-out the Devon pilot on a national footing.
Meanwhile, work continues with both the IPHE and the ECA with occupational road risk management advice distributed through both organisations’ various communications channels. In addition, RoadSafe aims to maximise speaking opportunities at events organised by both groups.
Ms Scurr said: “Having worked with both groups in the pilot phase, we intend to engage with other trade associations and have a contact programme in place to encourage their involvement in the programme.”