RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

November 22, 1999
MANSLAUGHTER CASE WARNING TO FLEET OPERATORS

A court case in which two company directors were convicted of manslaughter is a warning to all fleet operators of the dangers of allowing drivers to spend too many hours at the wheel, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said today.

The two haulage firm directors were accused at the Old Bailey of being "grossly negligent" in allowing their driver to spend more than 60 hours a week at the wheel - breaking the law on driving hours. He fell asleep and caused a fatal crash.

The court was told that they knew, or should have known, that the driver was in a "dangerously exhausted state". They will be sentenced on December 10, along with the lorry driver who admitted driving dangerously.

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: "This is a warning to all fleet operators - not just of lorries but of cars and vans as well - that action can be taken if they do not manage risk on the road correctly.

"We know that many company car and van drivers stay on the road for longer than the recommended period of time. They should be taking breaks every couple of hours, but many do not. Although this case involved a lorry driver whose hours are regulated, I can see no reason why similar action could not be taken against car fleet operators, if they know their employees are driving when they are too tired. They have a responsibility not only to the employee, but to other people on the road."

RoSPA is campaigning for bosses to manage occupational road risk correctly, and runs training courses to help them. These cover the dangers of fatigue and expecting drivers to cover too many miles and fit in too many calls during a day.

A survey published by RoSPA last year showed that 17 per cent of people who drove for work were concerned about the safety implications of the hours they spend on the road. A third said companies did not worry about long hours at the wheel as long as the job got done. About 23 per cent admitted having felt drowsy or falling asleep while driving. Eighty six per cent had received no driver training at their current company - even though such schemes, like those run by RoSPA - can have a dramatic effect on reducing accidents.