A continuing focus on reducing collisions both in and beyond its own fleet has led Skanska to retain the award for safe fleet of the year.

The company leaves no stone unturned in its mission to reduce incidents: all drivers, including grey fleet, are subject to an online risk assessment that includes hazard perception and attitudes to driving.

All, too, undergo regular licence checks. Commercial drivers are checked every three months with all other drivers every six, unless they are identified as ‘high risk’. In these instances, licences are checked every three months.

Training is carried out throughout a driver’s career, employing a mixed programme to ensure it is relevant and proportionate.

An example of this is that all LGV drivers are put through the Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme (FORS) safe urban cycling course.

In future, Skanksa will extend this to all van and HGV drivers as it feels they will benefit from a greater understanding of how cyclists and other vulnerable road users feel when in traffic.

The company’s initiatives have seen the incident rate – for all vehicle use including commuting and personal use accidents – fall by 11 percentage points between 2015 and 2016.

Skanska has also trained a number of Brake ambassadors across the business to enable them to take the safety message to their own contacts and the wider community.

Although the company has again made great strides to reduce risk and incidents, it is not content to rest on its laurels.

Last year saw a bigger reduction in the number of collisions involving commercial vehicles than cars, due to the fact it concentrated its management of occupational road risk more towards commercial vehicles.

This year, however, it is targeting car drivers and trialling telematics in cars to replicate the beneficial effect this has had on commercial vehicle incident rates.

Picture caption: Skanska head of fleet Julie Madoui (centre) and fleet risk and compliance manager Alison Moriarty collect the award from Andrew Brown-Allan, group marketing director, Trak Global Group

Finalists

• Anglian Water
• Gateshead Council
• Iron Mountain
• Royal Mail
• Skanska
• Speedy Hire

Highly commended

• Iron Mountain
• Royal Mail

Judges’ comments

Skanska has a holistic approach to running a safe fleet. It identifies the gaps and finds the best solutions. In addition to its own strong track record of reducing incidents, Skanska is also active in the wider market in helping other organisations to improve the safety of their own fleets. Comprehensive and admirable, said the judges. 

Awards video

Skanska head of fleet Julie Madoui (centre) and fleet risk and compliance manager Alison Moriarty collect the award from Andrew Brown-Allan, group marketing director, Trak Global Group