Up to 75 die driving company cars

Up to 75 workers are killed every year while driving a vehicle for their company, it was revealed today.

Despite the number of work-related road deaths, more than four in 10 bosses do not issue driving guidelines.

The figures have sparked a joint Road Safety Authority (RSA) and Health and Safety Authority (HSA) clampdown on fatal company car crashes.

Martin O’Halloran, chief executive officer of the HSA, warned that all employers are legally required – under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 – to have measures in place to protect the safety of all their employees.

“Particularly concerning is that 42% of Irish businesses have no driving for work policy as part of their health and safety management system,” he said.

The HSA said up to one third of all road collisions involve drivers who are using their vehicle for work – which translates into around 75 people a year.

Mr O’Halloran said employers are required to give proper information and training to protect the safety of workers.

“This duty extends to employees who drive for work,” he said.

“Not only will a proactive approach help to protect your workforce, it may also save your business significant amounts of money.”

Vehicles are the biggest cause of work-related deaths while studies show that people who drive company cars have between 30% and 40% more collisions than ordinary drivers, according to the HSA.

This risk increases for those who drive more than 40,000 kilometres a year.

Noel Brett, chief executive officer of the RSA, said driving for work guidelines to help employers are now available free of charge from both the RSA and the HSA.

“Managing staff safety, while driving for work, makes good business sense, especially in the current economic climate as it protects staff and business profits,” he added.

“For example, for every one euro claimed on insurance, arising from work related road incidents, companies may have to pay a further eight to €36 for uninsured losses.”