Mobile Offices A Real Safety Threat

Mass use technology is on the rise from gps systems, handsfree mobile kits, mp3 players and DVD players, blackberry’s…. These devices distract attention from the road and increase the possibility and instance of accidents. Conor Kelly, Managing Director of Merrion Fleet calls on fleet managers to discourage the overuse of hi-tech gadgets in the car. Studies have found that all secondary tasks while driving – eating, drinking, grooming, talking on the phone, chatting with a passenger – resulted in some reduced driving performance. Some of the effects seen in drivers behaviour included erratic steering and driving too slowly. A recent survey of motorists highlighted that one in five drivers acknowledged they had swerved out of lane when attempting to change a cd or adjust their instrument panel whilst driving.

Conor Kelly responding to the recent report from the UK Taskforce on Occupational Road Safety believes that “ There is a need for companies to put road safety policies in place to ensure safer Irish roads. “ Employees are now more likely to incur an injury or fatality during an at-work road incident than in an incident in a “fixed” work place. An increasing number of those killed in accidents are reported to be on company related business when the accident occurs. Conor encourages fleets to introduce strict guidelines as an increasing number of company car drivers turn their cars into “mobile offices”.

Companies are responsible for the health and safety of their employees whilst driving, whether they are driving a company car or using their own car for company business. Employers need to ensure their employees are driving safely and have an adequate standard of driving skills. Conor Kelly believes that “companies should ideally introduce a thorough driver recruitment policy and provide training to improve driving skills of their driver – employees”

Conor continued “ Many fleets still have no formal safety policy and even where they exist, the nature of them varies considerably”. Conor believes that “ the main safety issues that should be monitored by companies are roadworthiness, mobile phone use, driving periods and safe driving practices”.

29 March 2006