One in five crashes occur at work

7 February 2014

Businesses in the North East have been urged to act now to help protect their staff after it was revealed that you are more likely to be involved in a collision as the result of a business driver than a drink driver.

One in five road accidents in the North East have involved people who were driving for work during the last five years.

One of the North East's  leading manufacturing companies, Husqvarna, has made substantial savings after putting all of its drivers and managers through a safety and efficiency motoring course.

The Newton Aycliffe-based company, which produces Flymo garden products, has seen its fuel bill reduce and its driver safety record improve following completion of the Safety and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) course.

Funded through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and run by road safety officers within local authorities, the one-day course aims to improve the driving standards of people who drive for work, while also reducing fuel consumption and saving money on transport costs.

Paul Mather, Health and Safety and Risk Manager at Husqvarna, said all the company’s salesmen, delivery drivers and managers with company cars, about 68 in total, had completed the course during the past 18 months. New members of staff are completing it as they join.