Accidental heroes
October 1st 2009 Every single day an average of eight people lose their lives on UK roads.Geoff Dossetter says we must all do everything we can to reduce this figure
Do you know which category of vehicle has the worst safety record on UK roads? You will probably not be surprised to learn that it is the motorcycle, which is involved in 436 accidents of all severities per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled, sadly including 676 fatalities in 2007, the last year for which full statistics are available.Motorcycle riders are clearly vulnerable.
Very sad, and an enormous figure. But an almost 50 per cent improvement from just ten years previously when the involvement rate was even higher at 636 accidents per 100 million vehicle kms. And that improvement is echoed by the overall figures for all vehicles which have reduced by a similar ratio from 97 to 65. So, if motorbikes are the most likely to be involved in accidents, which vehicle is the least? Is it the car, the bus, the truck – surely not the van?
Well, yes, in fact it is. The van. Despite his less than flattering image with other road users and the public in general, it is white van man who has the best safety record of all, logging up just 21 accidents of all severities per 100 million vehicle kms. And at just 0.4 fatalities over the same distance the occupants of light vans can be deemed to be even safer than bus and coach passengers where the rate is 2.1.
Number two in this safety league is the heavy goods vehicle with an involvement rate of 36 accidents per 100 million km comparing favourably with the car at 63 and the bus at 149. We can honestly say that lorries are involved in about half as many accidents per vehicle mile than cars.
And here is another powerful statistic - the overall number of road fatalities has fallen from a post-war high point of 7,985 in 1966 down to 2,946 in 2007. This during a period when the number of vehicles on our roads has increased from 12 million to 33 million, with a similar proportional increase in actual mileage.
Good news maybe, but nothing like good enough. 2,946 terrible tragedies. 2,946 lives cut short to the despair of parents, children, husbands, wives, families and friends. Real people, not just statistics. In fact it constitutes an absolutely enormous figure and we must all do all we can to reduce it.
Despite our industry’s poor public image and reputation nobody should really be surprised that professional commercial vehicle drivers have such a relatively good safety record. CV drivers undergo more training, for a tougher test, and are on the road in all weather conditions, at all times of the day or night.
They are subject to a regulatory regime far stricter than car drivers or motorcyclists. And the hours they are allowed to drive are limited and policed by technology. Best of all they are able to utilise their skill and experience in order to read the road and the traffic scenario, together with anticipating the likely behaviour of other road users, in order to take action to avoid accidents before they happen: Simply the best.
Whether we like it or not, white van man does have that unfortunate reputation for intimidating driving. But the statistics belie the image – he is involved in fewer accidents over greater mileage. Although, in many case, driving is a secondary skill, supplementing his primary job, like his HGV colleagues he clocks up sufficient and varied experience to turn him into a very good driver.His ability to concentrate, observe and anticipate all help to keep him out of trouble.
Readers of this column could be forgiven for accusing the author of a rather sanctimonious, do-gooding approach in recent issues. Fair enough. However, I make no apology for repeating that safe driving is economic driving. Not only good for the conscience, but good for the bottom line.
Safer driving inevitably leads to improved efficiency and lower costs – cheaper vehicle maintenance, lower insurance premiums, less down time, more productive and happy drivers, improved customer satisfaction, legal compliance, O-licence renewal etc Best of all it leads to a good night’s sleep for both the driver and his manager.
So, once again, can I encourage the pursuit of best practice in every shape and form. Driver training, regular maintenance and vehicle inspection regimes, daily walkarounds, safe loading, practical routing, regular licence checks, tacho audits etc. You know what I mean.
And have you considered subscribing to ‘Well Driven?’ or one of the other schemes available for public reports on your drivers. You may be surprised at the extent to which these schemes are helpful in managing your fleet and, believe it or not, are regarded by many drivers as a source of pride along the lines of ‘I’m a good driver and have nothing to hide.’
The safety record of UK CV drivers is good. But it is not good enough and we must all endeavour to make it better. Sadly, some accidents cannot be avoided. But many can. Let’s apply practical foresight rather than reflect in tragic hindsight. More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
