CRASHES. Why help cut the crashes? Sooner or later, you pay the price for unsafe driving. CUT THE .COM

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1 Why help cut the crashes? Sooner or later, you pay the price for unsafe driving. Speeding, using a mobile while driving, failing to wear a seat belt, and feeling fatigued all dramatically increase the risk of a crash. Every time you get caught, there are fines to pay and penalty points on your licence you could even lose your job. Worse still, you re much more likely to have a crash and this can literally mean a matter of life or death. Whether you clock up high mileages or only drive occasionally on company business, it s easy to lose concentration when you re thinking about the next meeting or delivery. That makes you vulnerable, so you have to be especially careful. Plan for delays. Watch out for speed limits and stick within them. And never use a mobile at the wheel. Apart from being safer, it s good for your image at work. Everybody respects a safety-conscious driver. Safe driving is worth taking seriously. So, make sure you know your responsibilities as a driver. One in three crashes on our roads involves a vehicle being used for business purposes Page 1 of 9

2 Mobile phones The ability for employees to be able to stay in touch when they are away from the office is important for any business. However this shouldn t be at the expense of their safety or that of other road users. As of July 2009, mobile safety camera vans began detecting drivers using a mobile phone, as well as those speeding and failing to wear a seatbelt. Drivers caught will be prosecuted. This includes a 60 fine and 3 points on their licence. As a result of the law, many motorists have turned to using a mobile hands-free kit when they drive. But just because it s not illegal does not make it any safer. Research shows that when a driver uses a hands-free mobile phone while driving, their ability to drive is impaired more so than if they were driving at the UK s legal alcohol limit (80mg/100ml). Talking on a mobile phone is different to having a conversation with a passenger. A passenger is aware of the driver s surroundings and will soon stop the conversation when the driver needs to negotiate a potential hazard such as a busy junction. This isn t the case with someone on the other end of the phone; they continue talking and therefore prove a distraction to a driver at a crucial moment. You can even be prosecuted for using a hands-free kit if you are not in proper control of your vehicle and the penalties are the same as if you were caught using a hand-held phone. If you use your mobile phone while driving you: n are less likely to maintain a proper lane position n are less likely to see road signs n are more likely to tailgate the vehicle in front n are more likely to feel stressed and frustrated n have slower braking and reaction times n have poorer judgement of safe gaps in traffic n have less awareness of your surroundings Tips n Switch off your phone before beginning a journey n Make regular stops to pick up voic s but always stop in a safe place and turn off the ignition Your responsibilities n It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving n Your employer can also be held liable along with you, the driver The penalties n 60 fine n 3 penalty points on your licence n If the case goes to court maximum fine of 1000, or 2500 for drivers of a bus, coach of HGV n Employer prosecution Like drinking and driving, mobile phones and driving do not mix. Page 2 of 9

3 Seatbelts save lives The law requires that drivers and passengers aged 14 and over in cars, vans and other commercial vehicles must wear a seatbelt if available. So why does confusion remain? Delivery drivers, especially, are not always aware of their responsibilities. But the law still applies. As of 2005, delivery drivers are only exempt from wearing a seat belt when conducting local deliveries, travelling 50 metres or less between deliveries and collections. If you drive more then 50 metres between each stop, however, the law states that you must wear a seatbelt. Other exemptions are very occasionally granted on medical grounds. Your doctor will issue a Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing if they decide it is not suitable for you to wear a seat belt for medical reasons. This must be produced if the police ask you for it or if you are caught not wearing a seatbelt by the mobile safety camera vans. Please visit AdviceOnKeepingYourVehicle/DG_ for more information. If you have a collision at 25 mph unbelted, it is like falling from a two storey building. At 40 mph it is like falling from six stories, and at 60 mph it is like falling from 12 stories. With only 69% of van drivers and 58% of their passengers wearing a seatbelt, the commercial driver has a huge part to play in decreasing the number of lives lost on our roads. As of July 2009, mobile safety camera vans began detecting drivers not wearing a seatbelt As of July 2009, mobile safety camera vans began detecting drivers not wearing a seatbelt, as well as those speeding and using a mobile phone. Drivers caught will be prosecuted. This includes a 60 fine. Page 3 of 9

4 Fatigue Fatigue is not just falling asleep at the wheel. It incorporates tiredness, weariness and exhaustion; all of which will impair your driving. Perhaps less well known are the two different types of fatigue. Mental fatigue: A cognitive weariness resulting from prolonged mental concentration or boredom. Emotional fatigue: A general debilitating state resulting from frustrations and anxieties, more commonly known as stress. If you are suffering from either mental or emotional fatigue you are likely to be seriously affected in the following ways: n Reduced reaction time, vigilance and concentration n Slower speed at which you process information n Poorer quality of decision making Obviously, your ability to perform attention-based activities, like driving, becomes a lot more difficult as a result. Consequently, a high number of single vehicle crashes (e.g. hitting a tree, lamppost etc) and severe head-on collisions take place when people experience fatigue. While 20% of incidents and crashes on monotonous roads such as motorways in Great Britain are said to be fatigue related, this is likely to be an underestimation. It is not a specific offence to drive when fatigued, although it is far more likely that a driver will commit a driving offence as a result. Drivers, therefore, can be charged with in the most serious case causing death by dangerous driving, for which the maximum penalty is 14 years in prison. As a commercial driver it may be difficult to avoid undertaking a long journey if you are tired, and between 12am-6am, but to minimise the risk of involvement in a fatigue-related road incident it is suggested you: n Plan sufficient breaks into your journey schedule 15 minutes for every two hours you drive n Plan an overnight stop, if necessary n Stop in a safe place if you feel tired during your journey and nap for 15 minutes The business driver & stress Are you: n Anxious about a meeting? n Doing final preparations in your vehicle? n Preoccupied with thoughts of work? Worrying about work whatever that may be distracts you from the task of driving, which requires your full attention. So much so that you may have difficulty concentrating, poor memory recall, and illogical or irrational thinking. These cause deterioration in performance, which is lethal when driving. So, stress and its cause must be dealt with ASAP. Tell your employer if you think you are suffering from work related stress. It is their duty to try to help you resolve the problem. While recommendations of two cups of strong coffee and fresh air might work for a short time, sleepiness will return if you do not stop driving altogether. Page 4 of 9

5 Causes of fatigue Although drivers are likely to be aware that they are feeling tried or stressed, some of the reasons behind these may be less obvious. Sleep loss aim for between 7 and 8 hours each night. Sleep disorders cause sleep loss, sometimes without the person being fully aware. Circadian rhythms our natural body clock coordinates daily cycles which programme us to feel excessively sleepy between 3-5am and 3-5pm. Time spent on a driving task as more time is spent driving, the more fatigued we are. Sleep Apnoea n is the most common form of sleep disorder n causes interruptions and halts in a person s breathing while they sleep Although a person with sleep apnoea will actually stop breathing while they sleep, the brain briefly wakes them up so that they can begin to take breaths again. This is a continuous cycle, which can happen hundreds of times each night. Usually, the person does not even remember waking up. Truck and van drivers are more susceptible to sleep apnoea because of their lifestyle and working conditions. This coupled with the fact that, as a result of the disturbed night s sleep sufferers are more likely to experience fatigue, makes such people at risk when on the road. Sufferers are: n seven times more likely to have a car crash n considered more dangerous than drink drivers In research carried out by Respironics SASA (2005) the dangers of sleep disorders and commercial drivers was exemplified. n 41% of HGV drivers have a sleep disorder of some form n 16% suffer from severe sleep apnoea requiring immediate treatment So, 80,000 HGV drivers are putting their own lives and the lives of others at risk by driving on the road while extremely fatigued. Don t leave it until it s too late Stop long before you have difficulty keeping your eyes open, your head starts nodding, and your vehicle drifts out of lane. These are not warning signs of fatigue; they are symptoms of a microsleep. Repeated yawning is a good sign you need to pull over in a safe place to nap. Fatigue hotspots in Kent and Medway include: n M20 J12 to J8 (both ways) n M20 J2 to J1 (London-bound) n Some sections of the M2 The early hours of the morning and the middle of the afternoon are peak times for fatigue related road incidents The business driver & fatigue One third of all road crashes in the UK involve someone who is at work at the time. This accounts for 20 deaths and 250 seriously injured every week. Page 5 of 9

6 Load safety It is a potential lethal risk to transport a load that is unsecured or incorrectly secured in your vehicle. Not only can an unsecured load affect a vehicle s balance, giving you less control and increasing the chance of causing a crash, just a small object within the vehicle can cause serious damage if it were loose. A suitcase weighing 25kg, for example, would travel forward with a force equal to a baby elephant (three tonnes) in a 25mph head on crash. Overloading, too, can have fatal consequences. Not only does it put massive strain on vehicle tyres, overloading also makes the vehicle less stable, difficult to steer and it takes longer to stop. Overloaded or poorly loaded vehicles or trailers were a contributing factor in 15 fatal crashes and 360 injury crashes in The law Unsecured loads, incorrectly secured loads and overloading are illegal. Both you and your employer can be held responsible for such offences, and will be prosecuted accordingly. You, the driver, could be prosecuted for dangerous driving, which carries a penalty of up to two years in jail. What s more, a fine of up to 5,000, three penalty points and disqualification could be issued to an employer who allows a driver to use a vehicle or trailer carrying an unsecured load. According to the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), all companies have a duty of care for the safety of employees at work. In the most serious cases, both driver and employer could be handed a 14 year jail sentence for causing death by dangerous driving. It is an offence within the Road Traffic Act to refuse to allow a vehicle to be weighed and obstruct an officer when doing so; both of which carry heavy fines. Killer tissues Load safety is not only imperative for large vehicles carrying substantial goods, but is equally important to consider for the business driver of cars and vans. Any unsecured inanimate object in your vehicle can, and will, become lethal in a collision. A laptop or tool box on the back seat will fly forward with immense force, causing serious injury or even death. If you consider that in a crash at 30mph, a box of tissues travels at a force equivalent to a house brick, you may begin to understand the significance of load safety, even for the smallest of objects. Van drivers & overloading Vans are the most common vehicle to be overloaded. As a van driver you should: n be aware of the weight and load of your vehicle n know the maximum permitted axle weight and Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) n take into consideration that the weight of the vehicle, driver load and passengers, plus additional loads in the vehicle and trailer are included in the GVW n ensure the load is distributed evenly keep checking after every drop off There are 4,000 successful prosecutions brought against drivers and operators for unsafe loads each year Page 6 of 9

7 Know the limits Did you know that the vehicle you drive may have a different speed restriction in a national speed limit zone than a car? There are different speed restrictions for drivers on the road depending on the vehicle that you are in. The diagram on the right shows the designated limits for each type of vehicle. Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership issued around 30,000 speeding tickets last year. Many people ended up with a 60 fine and 3 points on their licence because they didn t know the limit for their vehicle some thought they were within the limit at 70mph but in fact should have been doing 60mph. In Kent and Medway, safety cameras are set at a threshold of 10% + 2mph to account for differences in car speedometers, so enforcement starts at 35mph, 46mph, 57mph, etc. However it is important to remember that a speed limit is just that the top speed that you can drive at on any particular road. It s not a target speed, and just because you are allowed to drive at a particular speed, it doesn t mean that it is always going to be safe to do so. For example, 70mph in a car on a motorway may be fine on a sunny day, but could be dangerous on an icy winter morning. Many factors other than speed come into safe driving, so remember that working out your safe speed will be a continuous assessment for the duration of your drive. With this in mind, take care to ensure that you adjust your speed in accordance with the road conditions and always stay within the limits. If you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of three years, you ll be liable to be disqualified under the totting up system. Generally, you can be disqualified from driving for: n six months if you get 12 penalty points or more within three years n 12 months if you get a second disqualification within three years n two years if you get a third disqualification There is one simple method to avoid being caught for speeding.don t speed. Receiving points on your licence can have a very negative effect if you are applying for any job, and even more so if the job requires a lot of driving for work. Losing your licence or receiving a temporary ban can be devastating to your career. Speeding can ultimately end your life and those of others. Remember, we don t want to catch you speeding. We even highlight all the fixed cameras in Kent and Medway so that you know where they are. Visit to see the camera location map. < 7.5 ton > 7.5 ton > built up area single dual motorway (street lit)* carriageway carriageway 30mph 60mph 70mph 70mph 30mph 50mph 60mph 60mph 30mph 50mph 60mph 60mph 30mph 50mph 60mph 70mph 30mph 40mph 50mph 60mph These speed limits apply to all roads, unless signs show otherwise *A 30mph limit applies on all roads with street lighting, unless signs show otherwise 70mph if less than 12 metres in length 60mph if articulated or towing There is one simple method to avoid being caught for speeding don t speed Stopping distances No matter how good the brakes on your vehicle are, it still takes longer than you would think to stop in an emergency. For example, when travelling at 70mph, you will have travelled at least 21 metres (5 car lengths) before you even start to brake and another 75 metres (19 car lengths) before coming to a stop. That s nearly 100 metres (24 car lengths) in total. Page 7 of 9

8 Sat Navs Few can argue that when used responsibly, Sat Navs can make driving a safer and more enjoyable experience, taking the stress and strain out of map reading, especially if you are a lone driver with no other help. But the Sat Nav does not remove responsibility from you the driver; its purpose is to get you from A to B. It is your responsibility to remain aware of all hazards and execute all manoeuvres safely. Utilise the spoken instructions rather than relying on glancing at the screen constantly. The correct placement of the unit in the vehicle is vital to ensure it does not block or obscure your vision. It is illegal to have your Sat Nav placed in the sweep of your wipers. You should always have a clear view out of the car. Even with the best technology and most up-to-date maps, Sat Navs occasionally get it wrong. We have all heard stories of overly zealous users driving into ponds, through no-through roads and diverted up one way streets the wrong way. The onus is on you, the driver, to remain in charge and not become reliant on the instructions given to you by a machine that may not be aware of changes to the road layout and conditions. Make sure you are happy with the route and never try to programme a route whilst driving. Don t forget to make regular updates to the mapping software. If you follow these few simple practices as routine they will become habitual like good driving. Failure to observe good practices could result in prosecution for dangerous or careless driving or not being in proper control of your car. n Choose a location within your line of sight, so you can easily glance at the screen without having to take your eyes off the road for a long period of time n Avoid placing the unit next to the A-pillar n Most modern vehicles have an airbag system which deploys when coming to a sudden halt such as an impact with another vehicle if an airbag was to deploy in line of your Sat Nav it could become a deadly projectile in a confined space, so make sure you position it safely Page 8 of 9

9 Smoking Work vehicles must be smoke-free if they are used by more than one person. The law requires vehicles to be smoke-free at all times if they are used: n to transport members of the public n in the course of paid or voluntary work by more than one person regardless of whether they are in the vehicle at the same time Smoke-free vehicles need to display a no-smoking sign in each compartment of the vehicle in which people can be carried. This must show the international no-smoking symbol no smaller than 70mm in diameter. When carrying persons, smoke-free vehicles with a roof that can be stowed or removed are not required to be smoke-free when the roof is completely removed or stowed. Vehicles that are used primarily for private purposes are not required to be smoke-free. Please visit everything_u_need_new_sf_law.pdf for more detailed advice. Page 9 of 9