Calderdale Council joins the Driving for Better Business campaign

20 October 2010

Major financial savings generated by a comprehensive focus on improved employee road safety by Calderdale Council are being used to fund front line community services

The business benefits of the Council’s pro-active approach to reducing its occupational road risk exposure are to be highlighted to other employers in the area.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council safe driving experts (left to right): Paul Topham, Transport Manager; Martin Allingham, Principal Health and Safety Adviser; David Short, Road Safety Project Officer; Michael Wood, Driving at Work Co-ordinator.

The Council’s focus on managing occupational road risk means it is the latest organisation to earn business champion status under the government-backed Driving for Better Business campaign, which is managed by RoadSafe.

The council fleet and the use of employees own vehicles for work-related trips is essential to service delivery across the area, according to Chief Executive Owen Williams.

He said, “We are delighted that our approach to improving the road safety of our employees and other road users has won approval from the campaign. The Council aims to provide and maintain a safe and healthy working environment for all employees".

Over the past 24 months the Council has upgraded and implemented a new driving at work policy. The assessment of systems and procedures embraced by the policy, which has resulted in the award of business champion status, has been the result of a team effort initiated and led by former North Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent David Short, the Council’s Road Safety Projects Manager.

The strategy has seen the council’s fleet insurance premiums reduce from £61,576.95 in 2009/10 to £53,611.05 in 2010/11 equalling a reduction of 12.8% representing a saving to Council ratepayers of £7,965.89.

These measures deliver a direct benefit to the communities which use the Council’s services and these savings and efficiency gains can be directed to front line services.

For full press release please click here.