February 2012 Newsletter
Freight Best Practice Scotland
The Freight Best Practice Scotland programme has been developed with the aim of reducing carbon emissions.
The website has a range of free material to help road freight managers and drivers improve their efficiency. Guides, case studies, software and seminars are available on topics such as saving fuel, developing skills, equipment and systems, operational efficiency and performance management.
Check out the useful webcast on freight vehicle checks.
Link: Transport Scotland Freight Best Practice
RoSPA Scotland – Young Drivers at Work (17-25 years)
Thank you to those who responded to our request for companies to participate in our survey on Young Drivers @ Work. There is still time for you to take part. If this is of interest please contact Kathleen Braidwood Kbraidwood@rospa.com or call 0131 449 9379
BBC Interactive Road Safety Website - Road Casualties Map in Britain
Although the number of road casualties is currently the lowest on record there is no room for complacency when it comes to road casualty figures.
Links: GB Reported Road Casualties 2010
Scotland Reported Road Casualties 2010
Many professional drivers and fleet managers are astounded by the sobering reality of the numbers of fatalities on our roads. A new BBC road safety website is now available, which has interactive maps that can provide easy to understand accident statistical data for your area.
Link: BBC Interactive Road Safety Website
Did you know that there are still more people killed in at work road accidents than in all other areas of occupational accident combined?
ACPOS Drink Drive Campaign Update
About 0830hrs on 1 January 2012, a 32 year old male was arrested following a road traffic collision in Clepington Road, Dundee. He later provided a positive breath specimen that was three times the legal limit. Due to his high reading a request has been made to the court to seize his vehicle.
Read the full report from ACPOS
Link: Drink Drive Campaign Update
Although the actual “festive” campaign has come to a close, Police Forces across Scotland continue to enforce drink drug laws throughout the year. The vehicle forfeiture scheme also continues.
Raising speed limit on motorways will “harm health”
Inappropriate speed is a contributory factor in most accidents. A new report has warned that proposals to increase the speed limit on Britain’s motorways and some dual carriageways from 70mph to 80mph will cost even more lives. Public health experts from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, writing in the British Medical Journal, say raising the speed limit could increase gas emissions and air pollution and could lead to increased obesity, with more people taking advantage of shorter car journeys.
Link: BMJ - Heath concerns at rise in speed limit
Changes to Driving Practical and Theory testing
Changes as of 23rd January will mean that the driving theory test will no longer use pre-published questions in a move to stop candidates from learning answers by rote.
Link: DfT Press Release
Do you provide your drivers with a copy of the Highway Code?
Do you know that it is available on line? Link: Highway Code online
Overtaking
Overtaking on a two way single carriageway is one of the riskiest manoeuvres for any driver: Here is some info on the things you need to consider:
Link:
RoSPA info on Overtaking
Grey Fleet
At the ScORSA Driving Risks at Work St Andrew’s Seminar in December generated quite a bit of discussion regarding Grey Fleet. Our speaker on the subject was Ian Murdoch who is with the Energy Savings Trust.
Link: Ian Murdock presentation
Fleet News provides a case study of a company, Arval, who put a ban on the use of grey fleet which has led to tremendous financial benefits for the company.
Link: http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/fleet-management/grey-fleet/
Other useful grey fleet information:
ScORSA members using their password can have access to other documents relating to vehicle checks. Membership is simple and there are no costs. All you need to do on behalf of your business is sign up to a statement that says you will proactively promote road safety within your organisation.
Link : ScORSA Initial Joining Questions
Agricultural vehicles
Our Health and Safety Executive say that in Britain, on average, between 40 and 50 workers are killed on farms every year. That’s a nearly one person per week. That’s a higher death rate than construction or manufacturing.
More information: http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has published a Health and Safety Guide on Maintenence in Agriculture.
Link: Europe Maintenance in Agriculture