The importance of a ‘Driving for Work’ policy

 

Driving for work is a potential risk for your employees and should be treated as such. Did you know that 40,000 injuries on Britain’s roads each year involve someone who was driving for work? *

 

A Driving for Work (DFW) policy is a great way for your business to show a commitment towards your employees’ health and safety when on the road, and compliance with DVLA regulations.

 

 

Which businesses need a DFW policy?

 

Employers have a legal and moral obligation to minimise risk faced by, and created by, their employees.

 

Any business that employs people who drive for work needs to implement a DFW policy to account for employees who use their own vehicle or a company vehicle for a work-related journey, apart from commuting (driving to and from your home and your usual place of work).

 

 

What are Safe Driving Practices?

 

Safe driving requires all drivers and their managers to understand the DFW expectations and rules to protect employees, other road users, and the business’s reputation. Common practices include consistent licence checks and comprehensive driver training.

 

“Driving fitness” is a broad term which covers factors that have a significant influence over an employee’s ability to drive safely and without distraction. The standards must be strict and non-negotiable, and any employee deemed unfit to drive must not do so under any circumstances. Fitness checks can include:

• Medical conditions.
• Physical fitness, and mental health.

 

 

What you need to include in a DFW policy

 

Driving for Work policies are not a one-size-fits-all. Businesses have various fleet sizes, operational and logistic requirements, and more, that should be tailored to. However, there are several universal topics found in any policy.

• Driving fitness standards.
• Roadworthiness including payloads, vehicle security, and licence checks.
• Driving standards include fines and penalties, accident management, and vehicle breakdown.
• Grey fleet drivers section.

 

 

Getting your drivers to adhere

 

Getting your fleet drivers to buy into a Driving for Work policy is crucial for ensuring safety and compliance which can lead to improved vehicle maintenance, lower operational costs, and fewer accidents whilst creating a culture of responsibility and accountability. Here are a few ways to improve driver adherence:

• Show how your DFW policy benefits them and improves their work.
• Hold everyone within the business to the same standards.
• Reinforce the policy regularly and highlight the benefits.

 

 

Updating your Driving for Work policy

 

The UK’s automotive industry frequently changes, with constant alterations being made to road laws and DVLA regulations. It’s important to review and, if necessary, update your policy regularly to avoid your employees following outdated laws which they, and your business, could be punished for.

 

 

How Northgate can help

 

Managing a fleet, regardless of its size, presents numerous challenges that significantly impact your bottom line such as navigating fluctuating fuel prices, accident management, or ensuring fleet compliance. We can eliminate the hassle of fleet management so you have more time to run your business.

 

Our Safe Driver programme equips your drivers with the knowledge to minimise road risks through expert online courses. Additionally, we offer a variety of compliance checks, including automated Driving Licence and Grey Fleet Checks, and provide a comprehensive driver risk profile to give you full visibility into your drivers’ strengths and weaknesses on the road.

 

Benefits include a comprehensive driver and fleet audit to help you cut costs, enhance your brand reputation, potentially reduce the incidence of fines and penalties, and more.