Monday, 16 July 2012 08:37

The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP) has released a new resource to help keep van drivers safe on the roads of Sussex.

From research conducted by the SSRP at the roadside, it appears that many van drivers are unaware that their vehicles are subject to different speed limits than car drivers.

Vans with a laden weight below 7.5tonnes are subject to 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways.  However, as the SSRP’s latest video shows, many drivers are unaware of this.

The responsibility for staying safe on the roads doesn’t just rest with the drivers – under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act (CMHA) 2008, company owners, directors and fleet managers also have significant responsibilities to ensure that their employees are safe on the roads.

Importantly, this piece of legislation covers anyone driving on works business – whether making deliveries in a van or nipping out for a box of printer paper in a private car.

The SSRP developed the Company Operator Safer Transport Scheme (COSTS) as a free resource to help companies comply with their responsibilities under the CMHA. There are five strands to the package:

1. Free leaflets, posters and handbooks for drivers and company owners setting out considerations under the CMHA, and sign posting further information
2. Free ‘Lunch and Learn’ workshops for businesses of all sizes with sessions aimed at managers and staff
3. Free Occupational Road Risk Assessments for managers to help identify risks faced by the company and create strategies to reduce those risks
4. Free assistance to help businesses review their road risk documentation and advice to improve the documentation where necessary
5. Driver training to help businesses address particular needs (this is a cost option)

The film will be used in ‘Lunch and Learn’ workshops as well as presentations to the Sussex business community to develop further engagement with road safety issues facing drivers while on work business.

Further information about the free assistance available to Sussex businesses is available online through this website or can be requested by telephone on 01273 465175.