Fleet managers should take a zero-tolerance approach to tackle drink- and drug-driving in fleets, says new guidance from Global Fleet Champions campaign.
Employers have a legal, moral and social responsibility to ensure their drivers remain alcohol- and drug-free at the wheel.
The latest guidance from the Global Fleet Champions campaign – which follows data from the WHO indicating 5-35% of road deaths are related to drink-driving – explains the risks of driving under the influence of drink and drugs and explores how fleet managers seeking to tackle driver impairment can champion a zero-tolerance approach, and promote safe and sensible decision-making within their workforce.
‘Tackling Drink- and Drug-Driving’ features advice from D.Tec’s UK sales manager Gareth Salisbury, who explains how fleets can audit their drivers’ compliance with organisational policies, and reward employees who choose to stay sober at the wheel.
Sarah Plumb, senior fleet officer at Brake, the road safety charity, said: “Ensuring the safety of your fleet goes further than vehicle maintenance; the person behind the wheel also needs to be fit for the road.
“A good road safety strategy should establish clear standards of behaviour and should promote a zero-tolerance approach to driving under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. This guidance is a valuable resource for anyone who manages people who drive for work.”
Gareth Salisbury, UK sales manager for workplace testing at D.Tec International Ltd, said: “In light of recent figures from both Merseyside Police and Essex Constabulary that clearly show they are arresting two or three times more drug-drivers than drink, company directors and fleet managers have to realise that this drug-drive problem is in their company. Along with colleagues and other road safety professionals, we explain in detail how a company can find a simple solution to what is often perceived as a complex problem.”
