Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick has told fleet operators they will be targeted in upcoming campaigns to ensure they comply with their legal duty to look after the health, safety and welfare of employees who drive as part of their work.

Around one-third of road crashes involve people who are driving for work, he said. They account for about 1,000 deaths each year.

“That is a stark reminder, if one was needed, that these are people we clearly need to target effectively,” said the minister.

“We have to do our utmost to push the message that driving for work can, and should, be managed like any other part of business.”

Future campaigns will highlight the dangers of distractions such as eating and drinking, reading maps or talking on a hands-free phone while driving. They will also target company car drivers rushing between appointments or work through fatigue.

This phase of the programme launches in March, 2008.