Boardroom Briefing on New Research shows poor quality evidence

20 October 2011

Driving for Better Business Champion Arval was the host for the second in a series of Boardroom Briefings supported by Driving for Better Business Partner Green Road. The event centred on a report by Dr Shaun Helman TRL on his recently published research for IOSH.

He explained that the  review had shown that there is little robust evidence to suggest which of the strategies companies are using to reduce work-related RTAs are actually working, and by how much. He said that although there are some promising approaches, companies may be spending a lot of money stabbing in the dark, using a range of interventions that are as-yet unproven.

Following discussion the business champions agreed to work with TRL to support a well controlled evaluation to show us what works, by how much, and why.

Dr Helman’s review of the evidence showed that some of the methods that show promise included fitting in-vehicle data recorders, incentives for safer driving, group discussions around safer driving, and training giving drivers an insight into their limitations -rather than training on vehicle control skills. And he is encouraging UK businesses and fleets to do more research into the methods that show signs of success.