Fleets are being warned that road deaths involving large vehicles are once again on the rise throughout the UK…
Large Vehicles and Road Deaths
According to the road safety charity Brake, road deaths involving larger vehicles are now returning to pre-pandemic levels. Large vehicles include the likes of HGVs, trucks and buses.
Looking at Government data from 2021, the charity was able to determine the hazards posed by each type of larger vehicle. It found that Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) were involved in 2,835 fatal or serious collisions. For perspective, that’s a 12% rise since 2012; and a rise of 24% when compared with 2020. The data shows there were eight fatal or serious collisions a day involving LGVS in 2021. During the same year, these vehicles also killed 35 pedestrians.
The data also revealed that HGVs were involved in 1,063 fatal or serious collisions last year; notably a 36% decrease when compared with 2021, but an increase of 7% compared with 2020. Rather disturbingly, there were an eye-watering three fatal or serious collisions each and every day last year. Moreover, they caused 42 pedestrian deaths, and 97 serious injuries involving pedestrians.
‘Horrific Shock and Devastation’
Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake, commented on the new figures. She said, “deaths and catastrophic injuries on roads cause horrific shock and devastation to families, friends, employees and communities and must end. Yet the statistics present a saddening slide back towards pre-pandemic levels and, for vans, a long-term trend of increasing rates of involvement in collisions involving deaths and serious injuries”.
She continued, “the statistics show why it is so important for corporations to take responsibility for managing their road risk through policies and procedures. Improved road risk management by employers, improved fleet safety rules and increased policing of fleet safety can help to put an end to the terrible carnage”.
Fleet Considerations
In simple terms, the data suggests that fleets operating large vehicles need to do more in ensuring the safety of their drivers and other road-users. As well as the obvious ethical obligations, it’s worth noting that fleet operators are just as liable to face severe fines and prison sentences as the drivers involved in collisions themselves.
Vehicles should be regularly inspected and in a thorough fashion, as to determine whether there are any safety hazards and to address them swiftly. It needs to be routinely checked that drivers possess valid driving licences, insurance and training when it comes to the vehicles they’re using, too.
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