FLEETS can now register their interest in becoming ‘industry champions’ as part of a major government initiative to cut the number of road deaths involving at-work drivers.

As revealed in Fleet News, January 4, the aim of the project is to create a ‘best practice communications programme’, drawing on the experiences of company directors and fleet decision-makers who have successful policies for company drivers.

The scheme is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) as part of a soon-to-be-launched Driving at Work campaign.

Latest figures show 16 at-work drivers die and 117 are seriously injured every week.

To tackle this, automotive-led charity RoadSafe is recruiting on behalf of the government a network of ‘road safety at-work champions’, including company director and fleet executives, that have a proven record of promoting occupational road risk management in their businesses.

Although plans for these ‘champions’ have not yet been finalised, RoadSafe bosses are keen to hear from fleet managers who would be prepared to stand up and share their experiences.

Director Adrian Walsh said: ‘We are convinced that the best way to encourage companies of all sizes and operating in all sectors of business to improve occupational road risk management is to highlight business ‘champions’ who are prepared to carry the torch and persuade other organisations to follow their lead.’

The telephone line for fleets to call to register their interest opened this week. Anyone interested can contact Caroline Scurr at RoadSafe on 0207 344 1605 or email cscurr@roadsafe.com.