Road collisions and incidents – the leading cause of death at work

Occupational road risk affects nearly 26.9 million working people in France. Did you know that road collisions are the leading cause of death at work ? In 2018, 482 people lost their lives on a work-related journey, and each year over 53,000 employees are victims of a collision on the road as part of their job. Indeed, 14,000 of them occurred when the person was asked by their employer to make the journey, and 29,000 occurred during their commute. Such incidents can have serious consequences.

Every year, 4.1 million sick days are taken following an incident on the road during a work-related journey, the equivalent of more than 16,000 employees being off sick for an entire year. The victims of such incidents are signed off for an average of 77 days before they are able to return to work, which is 10 days more than those suffering other workplace accidents. Executives at medium-sized companies cannot fail to act in the face of such stark figures.

“ 30% of the costs incurred following a road collision are direct, including the assessment and vehicle damage ”

A third of companies that own a fleet of more than five vehicles has put in place a proper road risk prevention plan, according to a recent study from the CSA institute. A little over half of companies (53%) keep track of antisocial behaviour behind the wheel, and 42% admit to not monitoring conduct in any way. And when it comes to the Single Occupational Risk Assessment (DUERP), which helps to set the cost of road security claims and needs, the document had been completed by 61% of people surveyed.

While there is still a lot of work to do, « certain executives of medium-sized companies have understood the need to put in place measures to reduce occupational road risk. They are far from in the majority, but more and more businesses are coming on board each year. », explains Hélène Hareau, Road Risk Prevention specialist at COVÉA Solutions Prévention.

This awakening is also driven by financial motivations. « 30% of the costs incurred following a road collision are direct, and include the assessment and vehicle repair work, while the remaining 70% are indirect, such as the employee being signed off work, bringing in a temp to replace them, the vehicle being disabled, or damage to the company’s reputation », adds Hélène Hareau.

These costs keep rising over time. « The frequency of claims has remained relatively stable, but incidents are becoming increasingly expensive as the cost of repairs (parts and labour), as well as personal injury are constantly increasing », says Christian Danel, Head of Bespoke Fleet Operations at MMA Maritime and Transport.

However, certain measures can be taken to minimise the number of work-related road collisions and incidents.

Reducing travel

Remote working encourages your employees to leave their car in the garage and not take unnecessary risks on the road. Flexible hours enable them to avoid travelling during rush hour, when the risk of an incident is much greater. Furthermore, a canteen at work will reduce the need for employees to travel during their lunch break.

Medium-sized companies can encourage their employees to use public transport by contributing to the costs of their monthly travel ticket. Similarly, a concierge service and a partnership with a nursery near the office will also help employees cut the time they spend travelling.

Organising communication

When a person at the wheel uses their phone to read or write a text message, post or scroll through social media, or check their email, they are 23 times more likely to have a collision. This kind of behaviour automatically takes their eyes off the road for at least 5 seconds, and during this short space of time, a car driving at 30 miles an hour will have travelled 70 m.

To protect their employees, medium-sized companies can forbid them from using their smartphone when driving, and avoid scheduling phone meetings early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the majority of employees are on the road.

Purchasing safer vehicles

Hatchbacks or utility vehicles? Petrol or electric? Make sure you invest in vehicles that improve the safety of your employees who use them. Electronic assistance systems – such as drowsiness detection, obstacle detection, tyre pressure monitoring, speed limiters and breath alcohol ignition interlock devices – help avoid many collisions and incidents.

Regular vehicle maintenance represents another essential preventive measure and involves checking tyres, brake discs and pads, fluid levels and the drive belt, as well as replacing windscreen wipers and testing brake fluid and coolant.

« Learning from the past helps to avoid repeating the same mistakes »

All employees – business owners, managers, members of the economic and social committee, motor fleet managers and employees – must be trained in how to best prevent road risks. For example, they need to know how to maintain their vehicle, adjust their seat so they can adopt a safe driving position, judge when not to get behind the wheel and assess their level of fatigue. This training is even more effective when it is tailored to suit each company.

« Learning from the past helps to avoid repeating the same mistakes », assures Christian Danel, an expert at MMA, « and medium-sized companies are beginning to understand that. »