Work-Related Road Safety: Case Study of British Telecommunications (BT)

Implementing a long term, sustainable work related road safety program throughout a whole supply chain from door to door, rather than just gate to gate requires a constant balancing act between the needs of business, the economy and the environment. Despite an increasing interest in research, policy and practice in the area of work-related road safety, there remains few published case studies of organisations that have effectively managed this risk. The aim of this paper is to directly address this gap, by reviewing and evaluating a risk led approach to occupational driver management, risk assessment, monitoring and improvement undertaken by BT throughout its UK, and increasingly global, supply chain. The paper is based on a detailed chronological case study of the policies, processes and procedures implemented to manage the road safety risks of 100,000 BT workers over an 8 year period. From a review of processes and outcomes data available, a good practice model and lessons for occupational road safety researchers, policy makers and practitioners are identified – including a halving of the collision rate and costs, and significant environmental improvements thorough improved business practices, more sustainable ways of working and changing manager and driver behaviours.