New legislation is unnecessary for occupational drivers, says HSE

The work-related road safety taskforce has decided that new legislation is unnecessary to reduce occupational road traffic accidents. Instead, existing health and safety laws should be enforced more thoroughly.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will now draw up guidance on managing occupational road safety. It will subsequently consider whether an approved code of practice with a quasi-legal status is required.

The taskforce also ruled that a specific driving test for professionals would not be needed. They found that employers should be left to decide whether their workers are sufficiently competent to drive, or work on or near the roads. This decision should be made using risk assessments, as with any other health and safety issue.
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