Think you know your stopping distances? Visit driving for better business at Fleet & Mobility Live this year!

If you’re a driver, you’ll probably know about vehicle stopping distances, and if you run a fleet, you’ll be aware that these will change depending on vehicle load, road condition, tyres and the fitness of the driver. Or do you..?

Visitors to Driving for Better Business’s stand at Fleet & Mobility Live next week can play a game with a serious message: how reaction times are affected by distraction, impairment and fatigue, then the added factors of loading, tyre and road conditions and their impact on stopping speeds.

Some one in three road collisions in Britain involves someone driving as part of their job – plus many more involving people travelling to or from their place of work. The Health and Safety at Work Act requires employers to take appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees and others who may be affected by their activities when at work. This applies when driving in the same way as it does in the workplace: a well-maintained, properly loaded vehicle must be operated by a fit driver. 

“The number of commercial vehicles, especially vans, on our roads has increased significantly over the last few years,” says Simon Turner, Campaigns Manager for Driving for Better Business. The safety of those vehicles and the people driving them and, increasingly, the wellbeing of those drivers, is gaining ever more importance among employers who realise that good management of those who drive for work is critical, and that good safety management and efficient, high-performing companies go hand in hand. 

“For those who manage occupational road risk, there’s a lot to learn, and a lot to communicate to drivers. We’re here to share resources, provide support and encouragement and help find any gaps in current operations.”

He adds: “There is also a clear business case for managing work-related road risk and improving driver safety within your organisation. Fewer road incidents mean fewer days lost to injury; fewer repairs to vehicles with vehicles out of action; fewer missed orders and overall reduced running costs. Now is the time to become better informed and start getting the benefits of better practice.”

Visitors are invited to talk to the Driving for Better Business team for the latest advice and guidance on how to manage driver safety effectively, and Simon Turner will be speaking about driving for work on the Arval stand. DfBB will also be supported at Fleet & Mobility Live by new delivery partner Fleet Service GB.