“The latest Euro NCAP results show just how much manufacturers are doing to make cars safer than ever before”

Although Britain has one of the best road safety records in the world, we must not be complacent: over 3,400 died here last year, with 10 times that number seriously injured. Traffic is the biggest killer of young people in this country of any description, including medical conditions, crime and accidents at home or at school.

Why on earth do we imagine some utterly bogus distinction between death on the road and death elsewhere, as if somehow death in a car accident doesn’t count? Is it because we somehow see road casualties as inevitable in a way that we don’t link with other causes?
Why then do so many take the risk of death or injury in the workplace so seriously, yet ignore the risk to their employees while on the road?

There is little doubt that driving at work can pose a real risk to employees and employers alike. Research estimates that between 25% to 33% of all road incidents involve someone at work at the time. This is the fourth edition of our journal, which focuses on what can be done to reduce the risk of road crashes while at work. Through it, we aim to reach out to our readers as partners with the common aim of reducing death and injury while driving for work.

The cars featured in this publication all have the most up-to-date crash avoidance features, including ABS as standard. The latest Euro NCAP results, too, show just how much manufacturers are doing to make cars safer than ever before. Improved vehicle design and secondary safety will deliver significant casualty reductions.

Here in Britain, we are acknowledged as a world leader in vehicle design, with many world-class design institutions and manufacturing plants for world-leading marques. We are proud of our cars, but all too often we do little to help our drivers avoid accidents. It is here that employers have a duty to lessen the risk. This edition will help you to do just that. Adrian Walsh, Director, RoadSafe.

Baroness Hayman   RoadSafe’s current chair, Baroness Hayman, is due to stand down at the end of this year and readers are asked to nominate a successor. The appointee’s main role will be guiding the development of the charity. In addition to chairing three meetings a year and attending the annual Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards Ceremony held in December, the chair would be expected to speak at an occasional conference and, at times, present road safety awards locally. The chair should be an experienced business or public figure who has a record of achievement and would command the necessary credibility from RoadSafe’s main constituents within the motor industry, transport and road safety sectors. Ideally, he or she would be recognised by government as a key influencer and would be experienced in dealing at senior official and ministerial level. The appointee should be able to demonstrate a balanced view in both road safety and social issues, within the context of the wider transport agenda. Please send all nominations directly to Adrian Walsh: Tel: 020 7344 9236 E-mail: awalsh@roadsafe.com