While Britain has some of the safest roads in Europe, road safety remains a very important issue. According to Government statistics 3,201 people killed on Britain's roads last year and 28,954 seriously injured.

With the Government's Road Safety Bill just receiving Royal Assent, Ryder Europe commissioned a survey of commercial vehicle drivers together with an independent consumer survey of drivers (RSGB Consumer Omnibus), to find insights into their views on road safety and the key measures that could improve driver safety.

While the Road Safety Bill advocates the retraining of drivers only after they have committed an offence, the surveys indicated overwhelming support for periodic driver safety courses or refresher tests for all drivers.

Fifty-six per cent of commercial drivers agreed that it would be useful for all drivers and 62% felt that commercial drivers specifically should take refresher tests or driver safety courses.

The drivers polled in the consumer survey were even more supportive with 63% agreeing that this would be beneficial for all drivers and 80% agreeing commercial drivers specifically (such as lorry and van drivers) should be required to do so. 

Perhaps surprisingly, these measures were most popular with drivers aged between 17 and 20, 75% of which thought all drivers and 96% of commercial drivers should be tested or retrained every 10 years.

Advanced driver courses were also considered to be one of the key measures of improving driver safety. Forty-eight percent of commercial drivers and 39% of the general public indicated that they believed that advanced driver courses could help improve road safety.

39% of public drivers and 37% of commercial drivers also favoured road safety awareness campaigns. Safety cameras only found support among 26% of the general respondents and 19% of commercial respondents. 

However, initiatives such as community speed watch schemes and road humps were not considered key in improving road safety with only about 16% of each group supporting them.

The most popular measure for improving safety amongst the general public drivers (40%) was roadside drink/drive testing yet only 34% of commercial drivers were in favour of this.  The introduction of drug/drive testing was felt to be helpful in improving safety by 27% of commercial drivers and 36% of the public.

Ryder also asked commercial drivers to give their own suggestions for improving road safety.   The most frequently mentioned initiative was to improve the competence of young drivers – no full license until 23, P plates for a year, retesting after a month and restricting the size of engine they are allowed to drive. 

Also mentioned were making fines heavier but reducing points, stiffer penalties for serious accidents, removing car parks from pubs and putting speed governors on all vehicles.

Many also felt that increasing the presence of police on the roads could make a significant difference.  Many indicated that better lit roads and improving the condition of roads generally would help improve safety.

"Road safety is important for us all and as employers we are aware that driving is one of the major causes of work-related injuries and that road accidents are a key factor in road congestion," said Peter Backhouse, Vice President and Managing Director of Ryder Europe. 

"It is very interesting that our research found so many were in favour of compulsory periodic re-testing or driver safety courses and restrictions for younger drivers.  This goes much further than some of the measures in the new Road Safety Bill and many people believe they could make a real impact in improving road safety. 

"We have a strong safety culture within our own business and driver training is something we really consider to be valuable in improving driver safety,"

Backhouse continued. "This year we introduced a comprehensive annual driver training programme which covers all members of staff together with our agency drivers.  We've developed the programme working closely with RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) and around 900 people are now annually assessed on their driving skills. 

“Those deemed 'high risk' are required to attend a one day tailor-made driving course delivered by RoSPA.  The course replicates the driver's normal driving day and can be conducted either in a car or a truck.  In addition, a group of 20 lead drivers are being trained by RoSPA as driver assessors who will assess driving skills and behaviour within Ryder on a continual basis and be responsible for ensuring high driving standards."