Lancashire launches new ‘at work’ road safety website

A new website for Lancashire businesses has been launched by Lancashire County Council’s Road Safety Group.

Addressing delegates at the RoSPA Road Safety Congress in Blackpool earlier this month, the Road Safety Group’s principal adviser, Clare Farrer, unveiled the Drive it Forward website in a bid to manage occupational road risk throughout the county.

The new website, which forms part of the group’s ‘Together We Can Make The Difference’ long-term road safety strategy, provides an open forum for managers to share best practice and discuss the issues surrounding occupational road risk.

Speaking at the three-day UK and international conference, Clare Farrer explained: "With over 77,000 injuries to employees every year as a result of ‘at work’ road accidents, it is essential for employers to assess the risks that are posed to their drivers. Anyone who is driving for business purposes – not just people in company cars or wagons – opens up the company to increased liability.

"The county council is strategically placed to drive the businesses of Lancashire forward, while playing a major part in the contribution to the reduction of casualties on our roads," she added.

"The Drive it Forward site enables employers to log on to up-to-the-minute information about the fast changing environment of occupational road risk, as well as sound advice for effective planning and risk minimisation.

"Managers – especially managers of small and medium-sized businesses - have a wealth of knowledge about occupational road risk, which we would like them to share with other like-minded managers through the forum, in a bid to help make the roads of Lancashire safer for everyone," Clare Farrer concluded.

The website can be found at www.driveitforward.co.uk and features an interactive forum/message board that managers are encouraged to use, along with newsletters, information and advice.

For further information, please contact Richard Owens, senior road safety adviser on 01772 262889 or Alison Gudgeon, alison.gudgeon@env.lancscc.gov.uk