Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\FacebookOpenGraph.xslt Graham Hurdle's blog: 3 October - Are drivers playing Russian Roulette at work?
Cookies on Businesscar

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Car website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookies at any time

BusinessCar magazine website email Awards mobile

The start point for the best source of fleet information

Graham Hurdle's blog: 3 October - Are drivers playing Russian Roulette at work?

Date: 03 October 2016

Graham Hurdle is managing director of E-Training World

Hectic schedules have led to drivers playing 'Russian Roulette' with their own lives and those of others, leaving themselves open to fines, convictions, and even jail according to motoring solicitor Matthew Reynolds of Just Motor Law.

Reynolds cites examples of time-strapped drivers applying make-up, programming their sat-nav, and even shaving while on the move, and I suspect any driver reading this acknowledges that they all take the odd gamble now and then.

But why do we do it? Why, when travelling at, lets say, 60 mph in a chunk of metal weighing 2 tonnes do we think that's a good time to take our eyes off the road to do something else. All in the knowledge that if we hit something or someone it's potentially life-threatening, and we could end up in prison.

I see a number of reasons. Cars are so luxurious, quiet and smooth these days, the reality and responsibility of what we are doing when driving is diminished. Years ago, cars were noisy, shaky, the steering was heavier and the sensation of driving was heightened by a feeling of speed, noise and the bumps on the road surface.

Modern cars feel more like offices. We cruise quietly in comfort, able to make phone calls, relax because our satnavs are guiding us, listen to music that's comparable to hi-fi quality and enjoy the temperature control of our air conditioning.

While sitting in this luxurious 'bubble', we're also in a society that expects constant communication and immediate responses. Even when driving, we're under pressure to make calls, answer the phone, be available.

And because many companies expect staff to be productive 100% of the time, drivers do things on the move to avoid wasting time - whether its eating a sandwich, straightening their tie in the vanity mirror or applying lipstick as they near the next meeting venue.

Sadly, many drivers also think their actions either aren't that risky, or are a 'risk worth taking'. For example, just looking away for a few seconds to re-programme the SatNav, or have a quick read of a text.

Just in recent weeks a lorry driver has been jailed for six years for causing a crash that killed a police officer after he looked at a text message. Its not, and never will be, a risk worth taking to take your eyes off the road to do something unimportant.

But is it enough to have a policy in place advising drivers not to do these things?

Having a policy is vital, but achieving long-term cultural change is the aim.

People are so bombarded with health & safety these days that some drivers believe road safety is someone else's responsibility and nothing to do with them - despite the fact that they are the ones driving.

The role of any organisation is to therefore shift the accountability onto everyone's shoulders, with everyone championing safe driving. The sales director, the customer services manager, the finance officer, the operations team - the list goes on.

All of these people should be saying no to dangerous practices when driving, leading by example to never do it themselves, making it totally unacceptable if others do it and ultimately making Russian roulette driving a thing of the past.



Share


Subscribe