A Driving for Better Business seminar supported by AA DriveTech was held by the Foyle and District Road Safety Committee and the Road Safety Council of Northern Ireland yesterday.

The breakfast seminar, organised in partnership with other local district councils, was free of charge and heard from a variety of speakers highlighting the risks of “at work” road collisions.

Speakers also explained the legal responsibilities in this area and promoted the importance of employers managing occupational road risk for both their full time drivers and staff who may drive occasionally for work.

Edmund King, AA president and keynote speaker at the conference said: “Driving for work involves risk. Indeed, the Driving for Better Business campaign estimates that one third of road crashes involves a vehicle being driven for work. Legally, all employers have a duty of care to all their staff whether they are business or professional drivers. This includes people who drive a company car, have a cash allowance or use their private car or hire car for work activities.

“Comprehensive risk management programmes not only help reduce the risk of death and injury while driving but can also reduce fuel consumption, damage costs, time off work, insurance premiums and the risk of being prosecuted under corporate manslaughter legislation. Businesses should get on-board as these programmes can directly improve their bottom line and improve road safety for the employee and the community at large.”

David Jackson, chairman of the Foyle and District Road Safety Committee said: “We are delighted to be hosting this event in our city. We are working together in this venture with partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors. The aim is to highlight the need for organisations to have a complete health and safety regime for any employee who drives as part of their work.

"Under the corporate manslaughter act 2007, in the event of a work related death attention will focus on the organisations senior management to see if they have put the correct procedures in place and that those procedures were robust enough, monitored and managed properly. This applies to all companies, businesses and organisation regardless of size.”

Supporting the seminar forms part of AA DriveTech’s aim to eliminate road death and serious injuries, using education and technology, to minimise risk for all road users.