The benefits
The true costs of accidents to organisations are nearly always higher than just the costs of repairs and insurance claims. The consequences of an accident on the self-employed and small businesses are likely to be proportionately greater than on a larger business with greater resources. The benefits to you from managing work-related road safety can be very worth while, no matter what the size of your business.
- It allows you to exercise better control over costs, such as fuel, wear and tear, insurance premiums, legal fees and claims from employees and third parties.
- It also allows you to make informed decisions about matters such as driver training and vehicle purchase, and helps you identify where health and safety improvements can be made.
- Case studies and research have shown that benefits from managing work-related road safety and reducing accidents include:
- Fewer days lost due to injury;
- Reduced risk of work-related ill health;
- Reduced stress and improved morale;
- Less need for investigation and paperwork;
- Less lost time due to work rescheduling;
- Fewer vehicles off the road for repair;
- Reduced running costs through better driving standards;
- Fewer missed orders and business opportunities so reduced risk of losing the goodwill of customers;
- Less chance of key employees being banned from driving, e.g. as a result of points on their licence.
Promoting sound health and safety driving practices and a good safety culture at work may well spill over into private driving, which could reduce the chances of staff being injured in an accident outside work.