Work related road risk
Work-related road risk refers to the danger of injury, death, or property damage that occurs when a person is driving as part of their job. It includes all vehicle use for work purposes, from daily commutes to nationwide travel, and includes risks to the driver, other road users, and the public.
For those of us that can drive, we take driving for granted and we don’t really think of the task at hand, we just get into our vehicle and drive. However, driving is one of the most dangerous tasks we will ever undertake. When driving for work, the risk of being involved in a collision increases by up to 50% compared to those drivers who are not driving for work.
In 2024, 6,600 people were killed or seriously injured (KSI) as a result of a collision when at least one driver was “Driving for Work”. This represents 23% of all KSI casualties and 29% of fatalities on our roads that year.
These figures highlight that driving for work is a major workplace safety issue, responsible for a significant number of road deaths and injuries.
The risk is real, and employers have a legal responsibility under Health and Safety laws to manage factors related to the driver, the vehicle, and the journey.
Driving for work introduces additional challenges beyond the physical and cognitive demands of driving itself. These include:
- Increased time on the road
- Pressure to meet deadlines and complete tasks
- Driving in unfamiliar areas
- Fatigues
- Operating unfamiliar vehicles