On Monday, July 7th, the Health and Safety Authority published a new guidance document on driving for work. 

This guidance document has been jointly developed by An Garda Síochána, the Health and Safety Authority and the Road Safety Authority to help employers understand and manage the main risks that working drivers face and create when driving for work.

The overarching message to employers and employees is that “Road safety is a shared responsibility” and its aim is to inform and educate employers on how to implement safe driving for work policies, procedures and practices.

Driving for work is a high-risk activity. Driving for work activities contribute to road crash risks for workers in all work sectors in Ireland. According to the European Transport Safety Council, up to 40% of work-related deaths are caused by road collisions.

Research by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) shows that one quarter of all drivers involved in fatal road collisions over the period 2019-2023 were driving for work. Those drivers were typically male and aged between 36-55, with half of them driving HGVs.

Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 adopts a Safe System approach, aiming to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. Our vision is to influence a sustainable reduction in the numbers of people killed and injured in work related road collisions and incidents.

The aim of this guidance is:

• • to help employers understand their legal obligations related to managing driving for work, and legal consequences of failing to act,
  • to help employers understand the main risks that workers face and create when driving for work,
  • to provide practical guidance to employers on how to prioritise and manage key driving for work hazards, and
  • to promote the development of a safer and healthier work environment by employers for those driving for work.

Employers have a duty of care to look after the safety of their workers, and part of this is making sure that workers are safe on the roads if their job requires any driving or related work activities. This includes the time when workers are driving or riding for work, whether this is in a company or hired vehicle, or in the worker’s own vehicle (Grey fleet).

This guidance provides information to help employers learn about:

• • legal duties relating to driving for work and fleet risk management,
  • how to carry out a driving for work risk management gap analysis to identify areas for action,
  • key driving for work safety issues and risks,
  • keeping and maintaining records relating to risk management practices,
  • how to embed driving for work risk management within the workplace,
  • how to promote safe systems with those that drive for work,
  • suggested risk management solutions and ways to help employers and workers use the roads safely for work.

Mark Cullen, Interim CEO of the HSA, advised that

“Employers have a duty of care to put in place risk control measures to protect and prevent harm to people at work and this includes when people are driving for work”.
He added,

“Organisations should promote a culture of responsible and safe driving by making sure management and workers always adhere to safe driving practices. Effectively managing road safety risks while driving for work reduces the risk of your workers and others being killed or seriously injured in a road crash. When employers prioritise safe driving, it encourages workers to do the same.”

Sam Waide, CEO of the RSA, said,

“Our data shows one quarter of all drivers involved in fatal road collisions over the past five years were driving for work and significantly higher levels of engagement in dangerous behaviours among those who drive for work. Education and awareness around safe driving behaviours are needed for all those who drive for work.”

Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, Roads Policing & Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána, commented,

“As one of Ireland’s largest employers, with over 18,000 personnel, An Garda Síochána takes our duty of care to our people seriously. We are fully committed to ensuring their safety while driving on duty. We also call on all employers and employees to recognise their shared responsibility in promoting road safety. Driving for work is one of the most significant road safety risks, and we urge organisations to take proactive steps to support safe driving behaviours among their staff.”

“An Garda Síochána encourages all employers to influence and support their drivers in adopting safe and responsible driving habits. By doing so, we can collectively reduce the number of road deaths and serious injuries. We remain committed to educating all road users about the dangers they may face or indeed cause by their actions. In this effort, we will continue to support and work alongside our partner agencies, the Health and Safety Authority and Road Safety Authority to promote safe work-related driving across Ireland.”