RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
October 6, 2004
“MEETING WITHOUT MOVING” PLAN TO CUT ROAD DEATHS
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today urged UK bosses to back a campaign aimed at saving lives by cutting the amount of time employees spend on the road.
Between 800 and 1,000 deaths each year are linked to people driving for work, and RoSPA believes many of the people killed are making unnecessary journeys.
The Society is supporting the Meeting Without Moving Foundation being launched in London on Wednesday (October 6) at the Meeting and Incentive Travel Show, Olympia. It aims to persuade employers to consider using technology, such as video conferencing, as a substitute for long road trips.
It is now widely accepted that for the majority of people the most dangerous thing they do while at work is drive on the public highway.
Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: “Employers need to question whether travelling to meetings is really necessary, particularly when there are so many safer alternatives and where people have well-established working relationships.
“High-quality video conferencing is now much more widely available at sites around the country. Telephone conferences and web-based technology could also be considered.
“As well as potentially saving lives and injuries in road accidents, these alternatives are likely to be cheaper and save time, fatigue and stress for employees. There is also the environmental benefit of taking cars off the road and the chance to improve the work/life balance of employees.
“Embracing the concept of Meeting without Moving can make UK businesses safer, healthier and more efficient.”
Roger Bibbings said that as part of their work-related road safety management procedures all employers should be asking if road journeys being made by employees were really necessary.
Bosses could find themselves being sued for damages if employees injured in work-related road accidents argued that they had been unnecessarily exposed to risks on the road.
The Meeting Without Moving Foundation will: raise awareness of the need to eliminate unnecessary travel; seek support from Government and influential bodies; and offer advice to businesses and other organisations wanting to reduce road journeys. See www.meetingwithoutmoving.com
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RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
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