In this initiative, Weber approached BRRAU for help to develop a scheme for driver employees, particularly those with company cars and those who achieve high mileage with increased risk to road accident and injury.
A one-day programme – The “At Work Road Risk” driver Course – has been developed by BRRAU and combines both theory and practical sessions to identify driving ability. The Course includes general road safety, accident prevention and defensive driving techniques. To date, some 50 of Weber’s employees have undergone the training programme and all respondents have achieved driving competence standards.
“If further training is required for any of our employees, this will be arranged at the company’s expense,” says Dr Sarah Kelly, Environmental Health & Safety Manager, Weber. “We hope to keep this initiative rolling until all our employees who drive have taken this training and make it mandatory for all new recruits.”
Mira Popovic, Marketing Services Controller, Weber, has recently undertaken the At Work Road Risk course, comments: “The course was a real eye opener in assessing my own competence as a driver and the potential hazards surrounding me at all times. It was a perfect opportunity to get back to basics and revisit areas such as steering, driving distance and observational skills – essential areas which all fall prey to bad habits over the years.”
She continues: “I would highly recommend that every driver in the UK undertake this course as it would help to make people stop and think about their driving habits and how easy it is to correct and avoid the bad driving which leads to accidents and injury. In my view this should be mandatory for all existing and new drivers.”
The monies raised by BRAUU for this service are being channelled into a county-wide scheme for teenagers who have reached a minimum age of 16 years prior to undertaking driving lessons. The one-day Respect course is designed to prepare young drivers for the risks, challenges and dangers of driving. “The day is designed to shock, by students challenging each other on attitudes and behaviour, and identifies the consequences of wreckless or sometimes ill advised driving, the results of which can have life changing consequences for themselves, their families and innocent parties,” says Bill Brady, Bedfordshire Road Risk Advisory Unit. “This is Bedfordshire’s initiative in road risk management and while we are piloting the scheme here we hope it will roll out across other counties very soon, in line with current Government thinking on young driver training. We are delighted to be working with Weber who has helped to make this possible.”
Participants in the scheme receive one free driving lesson, and on successful passing of the main driving test, the young drivers are entitled to a free Pass Plus course - a six-module programme which helps inexperienced drivers gain valuable skills in such situations as night time driving, town, motorway, and rural conditions. Finally they are offered a one year membership of RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders group, to become advanced drivers.
“We feel that the decision we took as a member company of Saint Gobain back in 2006 at the Environmental Health & Safety Day has become even more rewarding than we ever thought possible. Initially our commitment was for the safety of our own personnel,” says Eamon McDonnell, Managing Director. “But this training programme has given opportunity to a whole new generation of drivers who can benefit by being more prepared, more experienced, to handle and recognise dangerous road situations and conditions, or avoid a major collision, which will save life.”
