Employers urged to take speeding seriously

A report released by Brake, the road safety charity, and Licence Bureau, has found employers whose staff drive for work could do more to train and educate them about the potentially fatal consequences of speeding.

The Brake and Licence Bureau report found:

• Two in five organisations lack a speed policy, 65% of companies with a speed policy don't have one that applies to external contractors. A third of speed policies don't apply to senior management.
• Few companies are taking advantage of the full range of educational and training opportunities open to them, with only two in five asking questions relating to speed at recruitment or training during induction, and only three in ten providing additional training for drivers caught speeding
• Only a quarter of companies get involved with promoting speed awareness in their local communities, for example by supporting local training or education on speed.

Read a copy of the report, including full results, background statistics, and advice for employers. Please do not publish this link.

Driving too fast for the conditions is listed in Ministry of Transport figures as a factor in 29% of fatal crashes in New Zealand in 2014[1]. Slower speeds make our communities safer: on average, a 1% reduction in mean speeds reduce the crash rate by 5%[2]. If a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, the most important factor determining their injuries is the speed the vehicle is travelling at [3].

Brake is urging all employers with staff who drive for work - whether they have a fleet of commercial vehicles, company cars, or staff driving their own vehicles on company time - to implement policies and procedures to ensure their drivers are fully aware of the dangers of speeding.

Employers can access Brake's expert guidance by ordering a copy of the report, which includes advice for companies. Members of Brake Professional can access the report for free as part of their membership. Find out more about becoming a member at www.brakepro.org or contact Brake on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Caroline Perry, Brake's NZ director, said: "It is worrying that many employers are lacking a coherent 'speed strategy'. Speed is a critical factor in all road crashes and casualties. Our research shows that many companies can and should do more. This would help to prevent the devastating impact of road death and injury, and also save companies money through reduced insurance premiums and improve their reputation within the community."

About the report

The survey results come from Brake and Licence Bureau's Fleet Safety Survey Report Part Two: Speed. 131 organisations from around the world that employ drivers completed the detailed online survey, covering nearly 26,000 vehicles and 40,000 people driving for work.

[1] Motor vehicle crashes in New Zealand 2014, Section 2 Casualties and crashes, Table 26B, http://www.transport.govt.nz/research/roadcrashstatistics/motorvehiclecrashesinnewzealand/motor-vehicle-crashes-in-new-zealand-2014/

[2] Speed, Speed Limits and Accidents, Transport Research Laboratory, 1994

[3] D.P. Woods et al, Vehicle-pedestrian collisions: validated models for pedestrian impact and projection http://www.tara.tcd.ie/bitstream/handle/2262/41170/?sequence=1