‘Health & Safety’ Archive

New research released this week shows that motorists are ill-prepared for a puncture, with 1.3 million (4%) of drivers admitting they don’t even know whether they have a spare wheel or not.

The study, carried out in the UK for Kwik Fit, found that a million (3%) motorists confess to not having any provision whatsoever for a flat tyre. With an estimated 8.8 million (26%) drivers suffering a puncture each year, this could lead to a quarter of a million cars being stranded at the roadside in the next 12 months.

And it’s not just the rubber that’s missing in some cars – 10% (2.9 million) of drivers who do carry a spare say they don’t have the necessary tools in their car to change it over should a tyre blow, while 36% (11.6 million) have the tools but admit they don’t know how to use them when it comes to swapping over a wheel and 6% (1.8 million) are short on both fronts and have neither the equipment nor knowledge to get a new wheel on.

There also seems to be confusion as a result of car manufacturers no longer offering full size spares as standard on some vehicles. One in ten motorists (3.3 million) who have a spare don’t know whether it’s a full-size spare or a low-speed space-saver, which could prove hazardous if a blowout happens on a long motorway journey.

Some manufacturers offer neither a full size spare or a space saver, instead providing drivers with a puncture repair kit. Over 4 million drivers (11%) have a puncture repair kit but the vast majority of them (3 million) don’t rely on the kit alone and also carry a spare, ensuring they are prepared for a double puncture.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “The recent trend amongst car manufacturers to offer space-saver spares or puncture repair kits instead of full-size spare tyres could be the cause of this confusion amongst motorists. It’s is worrying how many drivers don’t know what provision they have for a puncture, but it’s even more of a concern to see how many have absolutely nothing in their car to deal with a deflated tyre.”

“For those who have recently bought a second hand car it’s also important that they assess the condition of the spare – there could be damage that isn’t obvious at a glance, and if it hasn’t been checked in a while it’s likely to be underinflated.”

“There are clearly gaps in knowledge around how to change a tyre, and indeed many cars are missing tools, which means even if a spare is carried some motorists will struggle to swap it over.”

Source – Fleet News, 30.04.12

The Health & Safety Authority, together with AVIVA, has developed a new Roadsense Guide aimed at reducing the harm caused by vehicles at work, through better management of work practices by employers. The guide is a valuable resource to fleet operators who want to safeguard their employees and business. To view or download the guide, please click here.

A fifth of business drivers are exceeding the speed limit, and as many as one in 10 are driving through red lights to get to appointments on time or meet targets, according to research released in the UK by RSA. It also claims sales reps are the most dangerous business drivers, but van drivers are more likely to ignore vehicle faults and haulage drivers are not given enough time to sleep between shifts. In addition, one in four business drivers are being put under pressure to get to appointments on time and meet ambitious sales or delivery targets, leading to dangerous and in some cases illegal driving practices.

The study suggests businesses and their employees are turning a blind eye to road safety as they try to cope with increased pressure to perform post-recession. It also questions the roadworthiness of some business vehicles. Almost a third of workers say they have driven with a blown light or faulty windscreen wipers, around a fifth have ignored a cracked windscreen – potentially impairing their vision – and more than one in ten have driven with a slow puncture.

Jon Hancock, managing director of Commercial at RSA, said: “Employers have a duty of care to ensure the legality of their vehicles as well as the safety of their drivers and, by extension, other road users, yet these findings suggest that due diligence is not being adhered to in all parts of the country or by all types of business drivers.”

Merrion Fleet Management can provide advice on Health & Safety, including Duty of Care and Driving for Work. For more information please contact us on 01 206 11 18.

Source: Fleet News, March 2012

Using smartphones for social networking while driving is more dangerous than drink driving or being high on cannabis behind the wheel, according to research published recently by the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists).

Despite this, 8% of drivers admit to using smartphones for email and social networking while driving – equivalent to 3.5 million licence holders, while the problem is greater with younger drivers with 24% of 17-24 year olds – a group already at higher risk of being in a crash – admitting to using smartphones for email and social networking while driving.

For their research, the IAM and TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) used DigiCar – TRL’s car driving simulator – to examine the effects of young drivers using smartphones to access Facebook. In every test of driving performance, young people who were using Facebook while driving were badly affected. When sending and receiving Facebook messages: reaction times slowed by around 38% and participants often missed key events; participants were unable to maintain a central lane position resulting in an increased number of unintentional lane departures; and were unable to respond as quickly to the car in front gradually changing speed.
When comparing these new results to previous studies the level of impairment on driving is greater than the effects of drinking, cannabis and texting.

• Using a smartphone for social networking slows reaction times by 37.6%
• texting slows reaction times by 37.4%
• hands-free mobile phone conversation slows reaction times by 26.5%
• cannabis slows reaction times by 21%
• alcohol (above UK driving limit but below 100mg per 100ml of blood) slows reaction time by between 6 and 15%
• alcohol at the legal limit slows reaction times by 12.5%

The IAM is calling for government action to highlight the dangers of using smartphones behind the wheel. Phone manufacturers and social network providers also have a key role to play in spreading the message. Attitudes to seatbelts and drink driving have changed dramatically over the last thirty years, and, with the right information, halting smartphone use could become a similar success story.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “This research shows how incredibly dangerous using smartphones while driving is, yet unbelievably it is a relatively common practice. If you’re taking your hand off the wheel to use the phone, reading the phone display and thinking about your messages, then you’re simply not concentrating on driving. It’s antisocial networking and it’s more dangerous than drink driving and it must become just as socially unacceptable. Young people have grown up with smartphones and using them is part of everyday life. But more work needs to be done by the government and social network providers to show young people that they are risking their lives and the lives of others if they use their smartphones while driving.”

TRL senior researcher Nick Reed said: “Our research clearly demonstrates that driver behaviour was significantly and dramatically impaired when a smartphone was being used for social networking. Drivers spent more time looking at their phone than the road ahead when trying to send messages, rendering the driver blind to emerging hazards and the developing traffic situation. Even when hazards were detected, the driver’s ability to respond was slowed. The combination of observed impairments to driving will cause a substantial increase in the risk of a collision that may affect not only the driver but also their passengers and other road users. Smartphones are incredibly useful and convenient tools when used appropriately and responsibly. Their use for social networking when driving is neither.”

March 2012, Fleet News

TOP 10 SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVING IN SNOW AND ICE from the Road Safety Authority

When temperatures dip below freezing driving conditions can become treacherous, the risk of ice or snow on the roads increases. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has, the following ‘Top 10 Safety Tips’ for motorists driving in snow and ice. They are:
1. Get a grip.
Remember your only contact with the road surface is your tyres so it’s vital that they are up to the task in icy and snowy conditions. Check tyres, including spare wheel, and replace them if the tread depth falls below 3mm. Check that tyres are inflated to the correct tyre pressure. Lack of grip can occur even on treated roads so drive slowly in the highest gear possible, manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking. Replace tyres if necessary.

2. Make sure you can see.
Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a screen scraper and de-icer. Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass. Replace windshield wiper blades if necessary. De-mist the inside of your windows thoroughly. Make sure your windshield washer system works and is full of an anti-icing fluid. Remember too that heavy snowfall will reduce visibility! Watch out for grit/salt spreaders and snow ploughs. The glare from the sun can be dazzling in the winter when the sun is low in the sky, so wear sunglasses in these conditions.

3. Check & use your lights.
Use your dipped headlights so that others will see you. Make sure your headlights and taillights are all in working order, replace broken bulbs. Make sure lights are clear of snow.

4. Gently does it.
Manoeuvre gently, slow down and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. Too much steering is bad and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear when travelling downhill especially if through bends. Falling snow, fog, rain, or hail will reduces visibility. Do not hang on to the tail lights of the vehicle in front of you as it can give a false sense of security. When you slow down, use your brakes so that the brake lights warn drivers behind you.

5. Watch out for “black ice.”
If the road looks polished or glossy it could be, “black ice” one of winter’s worst hazards: Black Ice is difficult to see! It is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. Watch out for black ice, especially in sheltered / shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high walls.

6. Give yourself a brake.
If you get into a skid, you need to know if your vehicle has ABS (Anti- Lock Braking Systems). After you “Step” on the brake the ABS begins cycling — you will feel pulses in the pedal or hear the system working. It’s easy to properly use antilock brakes: Remember – Step, Stay and Steer. Step on the pedal. Stay on the pedal. Steer around the obstacle. (A warning: A little bit of steering goes a very long way in an emergency).
For vehicles without ABS, you’ll have to rely on the old-fashioned ‘Cadence Braking’ system: Push the brake pedal until the wheels stop rolling, then immediately release the brake enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again.
Repeat this sequence rapidly. Your goal is to have the tyres producing maximum grip regardless of whether the surface is snow or ice.

7. How does your vehicle help?
Check in your owner’s manual and find out if your vehicle has any safety assist technology like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Anti Lock Braking System (ABS) and know how they assist your driving in severe weather conditions. But remember technology offers no miracles. Don’t let these lull you into overestimating the available traction.

8. Be Prepared!
In prolonged icy or snowy driving conditions it is advisable to carry the following in the boot of the car
a. High Visibility Vest
b. Tow rope
c. Spare bulbs
d. Spare fuel
e. A shovel
f. Appropriate footwear in case you have to leave your vehicle ie boots
g. A hazard warning triangle
h. Spare wheel (with tyre at correct pressure and tread)
i. De-icing equipment (Both for glass and door locks)
j. First aid kit (in good order)
k. A fire extinguisher (fully operative)
l. A working torch
m. A car blanket, additional clothing & some food and water

In preparation for driving you should also ensure:
n. The vehicle is properly maintained, serviced and engine oil viscosity is suitable for cold conditions.
o. Have the strength of coolant/antifreeze measured.
p. Ensure vehicle has adequate supply of fuel for journey.
q. Consider carrying some salt or sand. And
r. Give someone an estimated time of arrival at your proposed destination. Carry a mobile phone and spare, fully charged, battery (if you don’t have a car charger)

9. Get informed.
Listen to local weather and traffic reports. The RSA has prepared a helpful guide “Severe Weather Advice for Road Users” which you can download from the RSA’s website. It has lots more useful advice on dealing with the difficult road conditions.

10. Stay at home.
The best thing to do in extremely bad weather is to stay off the road. Take heed of warnings not to go out. This leaves the emergency services free to deal with real emergencies instead of rounding up stranded motorists.

Motornet.ie, October 2011

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has rejected claims that a penalty points system introduced as part of a new crackdown on drink driving is a soft touch. The new regime, which is now in force, will give authorities a sliding scale to deal with offenders instead of mandatory court appearances. Mr Varadkar dismissed accusations that removing the automatic driving ban for first time lawbreakers was too lenient.

“It’s important that people don’t mistake this as being a soft touch,” he said. “It’s not, it’s actually getting a lot stricter.”

The new measures, which took effect at midnight on Thursday 27th October, will see the drink drive limit reduced from 50mg to 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for specified drivers, which includes people who have been driving for less than two years and professional drivers. The limit for other drivers will be reduced from 80mg to 50mg.

If a motorist is caught driving over the limit but between 50mg and 80mg, and has not already been disqualified, they will be served with a fixed penalty notice, a fine and three points on their licence.

Motorists caught over the limit but between 80mg and 100mg will receive a fine and a six-month driving ban.

The specified drivers – learners, newly qualified and professional drivers – who are over the 20mg limit up to 80mg will be fined and disqualified for three months.

The old system would have seen offending drivers sent straight to court and if convicted of an offence, immediately stripped of their licence.

Minister Varadkar explained: “It’s a system of graduated penalties. If somebody is between 50mg and 80mg they’ll get penalty points. If they are above 80mg they’ll be banned from driving.”

By reducing alcohol limits to as low as 20mg for specified drivers, Mr Varadkar said the message was to encourage people not to drink at all if they intend to drive. “We want this to be a weekend in which nobody loses their lives,” he said.

“The evidence is that when limits are reduced in other jurisdictions, in Australia for example, there’s an 18% reduction in deaths associated with drink driving. So that could be another 11 or 12 lives saved this year.”

The Department of Transport, Road Safety Authority and An Garda Siochana worked together to develop the new measures.

Garda spokesman Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid warned roadside checks would increase – and not just at weekends, but through the week too.

He said: “The advice is never ever drink and drive. You’re either fit to drive or you’re not fit to drive. We’re asking people not to drink and drive and to slow down. Speed is still the number one issue in our roads.”

Drivers are also advised to carry their licence at all times. Anyone who fails to produce their licence when stopped will be automatically classed as a specified driver, whose alcohol limit is 20mg.

Researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University have determined that a driver’s reaction time is doubled when distracted by reading or sending a text message. The study reveals how the texting impairment is even greater than many experts believed, and demonstrates how texting drivers are less able to react to sudden roadway hazards.

In addition to the reaction-time element, researchers also measured each driver’s ability to maintain proper lane position and a constant speed. Major findings further documented the impairment of texting when compared to the controlled driving conditions. Drivers were less able to:
· Safely maintain their position in the driving lane when they were texting and their swerving was worse in the open sections of the course than in barreled sections.
· Maintain a constant speed while texting, tending to slow down in an effort to reduce the demand of the multiple tasks. By slowing down, a driver gains more time to correct for driving errors (such as the tendency to swerve while texting). Speed variance was also greater for texting drivers than for non-texting drivers.

The fact that the study was conducted in an actual driving environment is important, the researchers say. While simulators are useful, the dynamics of an actual vehicle are different, and some driver cues can’t be replicated in a simulator.

The total distance covered by each driver in the study was slightly less than 11 miles. In the interest of safety for both participants and the research staff, researchers minimized the complexity of the driving task, using a straight-line course that contained no hills, traffic or potential conflicts other than the construction zone barrels. Consequently, the driving demands that participants encountered were considerably lower than those they would encounter under real-world conditions.

Ed Dubens CEO at Interactive Driving Systems said: ‘Driver distraction has been an emerging issue in US driver safety research and practice over the last few years, this study emphasizes the reasons why organizations requiring their drivers to travel for work purposes should take the issue very seriously as part of their worker health, wellbeing and safety programs.’

Federal statistics suggest that distracted driving contributes to as much as 20 percent of all fatal crashes, and that cell phones constitute the primary source of driver distraction. Researchers point to two numbers to illustrate the magnitude of the texting while driving problem: an estimated 5 billion text messages are sent each day in the United States, and at least 20 percent of all drivers have admitted to texting while driving.
Read the full study at http://tti.tamu.edu/group/cts/texting-and-driving/

Ford safety research shows UK motorists are driven to distraction
Fleet News 22/08/2011

A Ford survey of British motorists reveals a lack of confidence behind the wheel. While women believe themselves to be the safest drivers, many male and female motorists confess to potentially dangerous driving habits.

The majority of drivers reckon they could not easily pass the driving test if they took it today, with the newly qualified having the least belief in their ability to pass a second time.

Nearly half of all women believe they are safer behind the wheel, a view shared by only one in five males. Adrian Walsh, director of motoring safety partnership RoadSafe, said: “Women are generally much safer drivers than men; every piece of substantial research done on this subject reveals that. Fundamentally it’s because they take fewer risks.”

Around 67 per cent of drivers are not confident they would easily pass the driving test if they had to take it again today. Worryingly this is highest amongst the newly qualified, with 73 per cent of 17 to 24 year olds not confident of passing a retest.

Said Adrian Walsh: “The driving test is primarily about skills, it’s not a measure of motoring attitudes. It’s the attitude this age group takes to risk which has a negative impact on road safety. “Males aged 17 to 24 are high risk drivers, and so are involved in proportionately many more accidents. “There is a need for people to learn again how to drive. Advanced driving lessons are an extremely good idea.”

The most dangerous pastime at the wheel is texting (including posting messages on social networks using a handheld phone). The 10 per cent of UK drivers texting on the move doubles among 17 to 24 year olds.
The data shows other hazardous behaviours are frequently displayed at the wheel. Motorists confess to being driven to distraction: changing the CD or radio station is the most common habit (by 60 per cent), followed by driving with one hand (40 per cent), eating and drinking on the move (30 per cent), driving when tired (20 per cent) and talking on a handheld phone (10 per cent).

Fleet News, 21/07/11

While there are no official statistics linking the use of mobile phones to the 150 road deaths or serious injuries each week involving at-work drivers in the UK, a study in America has found that almost one in five road deaths caused by distracted drivers entailed mobile phone use.

Accident investigators are more alert to the use of mobile phones: in the event of a serious accident they will check phone records as a matter of course. If the driver was on the phone – or at some point prior to the accident – both they and their company will be held liable.

Among the first questions asked will be: does the company have a policy on the use of mobile phones while driving and what does it do to enforce it?

In a Fleet News poll, 55.6% of respondents admitted they allowed staff to use hands-free mobile phones for both incoming and outgoing calls with a further 8.3% allowing incoming calls only. All could be implicated in the event of a serious accident involving one of their drivers talking on the phone.

Just over a third (36.1%) said all mobile phone use was banned.

Risks are caused mainly by the mental distraction and divided attention from taking part in a conversation while driving.

Department for Transport research suggests that reaction times could be 30% worse than when driving under the influence of alcohol.

Meanwhile reaction times for drivers using a phone – talking or texting – are believed to be around 50% slower than normal driving.

It is against this background that organisations such as diversified technology company 3M and leading fuel and fleet management company Arval have banned employees’ use of mobile phones when driving.

Both are ‘Business Champions’ under Roadsafe’s Driving for Better Business campaign.

At Arval, the ban extends to business and personal mobile phones and applies to any employee using a car for business. It affects 500 employees.

Tracey Scarr, Arval fleet and road safety manager, said: “When the law changed, we immediately made the proactive decision to also ban the use of hands-free. The motivation was to reduce road risk and support driver safety.

An easy business decision

She added: “Our belief is that no business activity should take priority over a company’s duty of care towards its employees, which is why a complete mobile ban was an easy business decision.”

Fleet News 28/07/11

Even low mileage business drivers can benefit from telematics, according to Martin Otter, insurance development manager at Trimble.

He said: “If people are driving 4,000 miles a year does it mean telematics doesn’t work there? No it doesn’t. It just means we need to have a different approach.”

Self-installed technology is one approach that Trimble is looking at as it would reduce the expense and time of fitting telematics in a vehicle.

Otter also said that he was “fascinated by the opportunity to use emergent technology such as smartphones”.

He said that fleet managers could get “a massive amount of data” from smartphones to help them monitor, measure and modify driver behaviour.

He suggested that smartphones would be “a very cost effective way to make improvements in driver safety”.

“From my perspective I’m quite interested in putting a box in the vehicle but I understand all the issues around that,” he said. “If a driver has a smartphone with them anyway shouldn’t we use it to understand where they are, how they are driving, what they doing and help them to improve?”