Protecting your workers and others on the road

Driving for work , whether it's commuting to meetings, transporting goods, or operating a fleet vehicle, comes with responsibilities.

Road safety is not just a personal concern but a workplace priority. Incidents can not only cause serious or long term harm but may impact your public reputation.

According to Safe Work Australia's Key Work Health and Safety Statistics 2024, vehicle incidents were the leading cause of worker fatalities in 2023, representing 42% of the total 200 deaths.

Here are essential tips to ensure safety on the road for your business, your staff, and the wider community:

Plan the Journey

• Ensure staff are planning their route.

• Factor in extra time for traffic, weather conditions, and breaks.

• Set realistic timeframes, goals or other KPIs to avoid rushing.

Focused and Alert

• Avoid distractions such as mobile phones or eating while driving. Develop a workplace policy that enforces road rules and safe practices.

• Ensure staff are taking regular breaks to prevent fatigue.

• Arrange overnight stays to prevent long-period driving.

Vehicle Maintenance

• Ensure staff and fleet vehicles are roadworthy.

• Develop systems to conduct checks regularly.

• Have an incident, hazard and fault reporting process in place.

Emergency Preparedness

• Provision vehicles with an emergency kit.

• Communicate the emergency contact procedures.

• Have road side assistance or other emergency supports to protect staff during a breakdown.

Continuous Training and Communication

• Consider a safe driving course for staff.

• Communicate changes in road safety laws.

• Regularly refresh staff knowledge of safe driving policies or procedures.

Workplace road safety is everyone's responsibility. By practicing these safe driving habits, we can reduce risks, prevent accidents, and create a safer working environment for al