Businesses urged to register for free road safety event
Businesses are being encouraged to sign up for a free event aimed at helping prevent and tackle work-related risks on the road.
The Reducing Risks and Boosting Profits event is being held at York Racecourse on Wednesday 27 July from 9am until 12.30pm and is part of the Driving for Work Initiative with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of work-related road safety in the business community and public sector.
The event will also introduce the Driving for Better Business Campaign where organisations can share best practice with the aim of becoming a business champion for occupational road risk.
Highways England is working with the Chief Fire Officers Association as well as other key partners, to host the event.
Stuart Lovatt, Highways England Safety Action Plan Coordinator, said:
We are really pleased to have joined forces with key partners from across industry and the road safety community to offer these free events to local businesses aimed at improving work related driver safety and reducing the risk of incidents.
The event is being held alongside a summer campaign to raise awareness about safe motorway driving. Highways England’s top tips include planning your journey, check live and predicted traffic information on Traffic England and on Highways England’s mobile app and pay attention to signs and signals on the road.
Drivers are also being encouraged to find out more about driving on a smart motorway by visiting our smart motorway guidance page.
Our top tips are:
- never drive in a lane closed by a red “X” – the sign is there to protect road users or road workers in the lane ahead; you will put them at risk of danger if you drive in the lane
- all speed limits displayed in red rings are legally enforceable
- a solid white line indicates the hard shoulder - don’t drive in it unless directed
- a broken white line indicates a normal running lane
- if you have a problem with your vehicle, eg a warning light comes on, exit the smart motorway as soon as possible, at the next slip road or at a service area
- use the refuge areas for emergencies if there’s no hard shoulder
- if you break down put your hazard lights on, use your mobile to call the police on 999 and tell the operator you’re on the motorway
- if you stop in the nearside lane, leave your vehicle via the nearside (left hand) door if it is safe to do so and wait behind the safety barrier, if there is one; if you are unable to move over to the nearside lane, remain in the vehicle with your seat belt on
- if you can leave your vehicle safely, contact Highways England via the roadside emergency telephone provided in all emergency refuge areas; if it is not possible to get out of your vehicle safely, then you should stay in your vehicle with your seat belt on and dial ‘999’ if you have access to a working mobile phone
People attending the Reducing Risks and Boosting Profits event will receive a free implementation pack, and business managers who attend will also be able to send their business drivers on free car and van driver awareness workshops.
Businesses can register for the event now on the Driving for Work website.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.