Danger money for commuting to and from sites?

An Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Dec 1, 2005

Recent research from the Transport Research Institute highlights the increased risk of injury and death that forces those who drive for work on a daily basis.

Recent research from the Transport Research Institute highlights the increased risk of injury and death that forces those who drive for work on a daily basis.

The report states that about 1000 deaths per year are caused by employees driving to meet colleagues or clients.

Adding to this figure is the amount of injuries received.

The report also states that it is these motorists who are most likely to break speed limits and crash into other vehicles.

Therefore it cannot be appreciated enough the risk that employees undertake for their employers.

Kevin Blackwell, Executive Director of the Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES), commented on the report: "Drivers of company vehicles often consider their car as a perk of the job and I doubt if they ever consider the increased risk that they face in carrying out their duties when it involves travelling to and from meetings or work places by car".

"I would suggest that drivers carefully consider this significant increase of risk on their health, and life, and should question the necessity of every road journey that they undertake".

"Employers must also consider the risks that they are imposing on their employees and they are legally obliged to undertake risk assessments in regard to all matters that may, or do, effect the safety and welfare of their employees".

So, should all parties consider suitable risk assessments; the necessity to make such journeys and consider whether alternative modes of transport are available? Should employees who regularly expose themselves to the risks of driving, or even being a passenger in a vehicle travelling on company business, carry out the same assessments?.

If the risk is as high as the Transport Research Institute believes, then it may not be too far away that someone comes up with a case that employers should be considering payment for staff who are forced to travel long distances to sites by road, in other words, danger money.