Road Safety Week – Managing Risk

15 November 2021 by CSG

Road Safety Week is the UK’s biggest annual road safety campaign organised by Brake. In 2021 it takes place between the 15th and 21st of November.

In 2020, 1,516 people died on UK roads. A further estimated 22,000 people were seriously injured on UK roads in 2020.

Driving for work can be a dangerous business. Employers must manage risks for their driving employees, to ensure safe roads for everyone. CSG believes that all road accidents are preventable, and operate a zero accidents policy.

In 2020, CSG’s fleet drove approximately 207 times around the earth while collecting waste from our customers. With that many miles on the road each year we recognise the responsibility CSG have to keep the roads safe. We have taken action to protect our drivers and other road users by:

• regular driving training and assessments,
• vehicle maintenance and new equipment and,
• robust driving policies.

Driver Training & Assessments

The road haulage sector is the UK’s fifth-largest employer contributing more than £124 billion to the UK economy. The industry is heavily regulated and actively promotes road safety compliance.

CSG is devoted to protecting our employee’s health and keeping them safe at work. Our drivers and operators are the backbone of our company and are integral to our operations. Keeping them safe while driving is our top priority.

We are proud to have highly experienced and qualified drivers and operators. Every day they manage the complexity of driving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV).

When an operator joins CSG they receive a thorough Induction Training. Additional training adapted for the sector they will be transporting waste in is also provided.

Several CSG divers transport dangerous goods that pose a risk to people’s health or the environment and therefore receive regular ADR training.

CPC Training is a government-run training scheme. All drivers must complete at least 35 hours of training every five years to continue to drive a lorry, bus or coach. It is mandatory for all CSG’s drivers to get annual CPC training.
We are set to introduce three yearly assessments for all of our drivers, to further increase road safety and minimise risk. The assessments made form the basis for further training needs.

All our drivers also receive SAFED training, which help drivers improve their safe and fuel efficient driving techniques.

Vehicle Safety

Just as normal cars have become much safer over the past 50 years, the development of safer trucks has also improved significantly.

Besides extensive training, our vehicles are fitted with equipment designed to protect our drivers and other roads users:

• cameras,
• seatbelts,
• anti-lock braking systems,
• blind-spot mirrors,
• fresnal lenses,
• reversing alarms and,
• flashing beacons.

All of CSG’s vehicles are properly maintained with regular safety checks carried out. No vehicle is driven until any defects identified have been rectified.

CSG Policy Designed to Minimise Risk

HGV Drivers in the UK has been subject to much discussion in 2021, due to the HGV driver shortage. In August 2021, Transport Secretary Grant Schapps introduced a temporary relaxation of driver hours. CSG did not support this relaxation of driving hours, as it was likely to reduce road safety. Our Drivers Hour Policy incorporate an adequate amount of rest breaks necessary to ensure all our drivers are alert while driving.

Good eyesight is a basic requirement for safe driving. Poor vision affects our ability to recognise danger and slows down our reaction times. CSG Road Safety Policy states that all drivers have to have their eyes checked twice every year.

People who talk on the phone while driving, hand-held and hands-free, are four times more likely to be involved in road accidents. It is CSG policy for all drivers to not use mobile phones in any capacity while also operating the vehicle.