Company Driving Policy

Walker Construction UK Limited is committed to reducing the risks staff face and create when driving at work.  We expect staff to comply with this policy, irrespective of whether they use a company owned vehicle, their own vehicle or a hired vehicle.

Vehicle speed

When at work staff must obey relevant speed limits at all times and must not drive faster than the prevailing conditions safely allow.  Exceeding the speed limit is against the law.  Persistent failure to comply with the law will be regarded as a serious matter and gross speeding whilst driving at work will be regarded as a serious disciplinary matter. Staff who have penalty points on their licence may be required to take further driver training. Company cars will be withdrawn from staff who are disqualified from driving and may be withdrawn from staff who have 9 or more penalty points.  The company will co-operate with police enquiries resulting from an alleged speeding offence or incident and will supply details of the employee (or the driver, if different) to whom the vehicle is allocated.

Driving and mobile phones

Staff driving at work should avoid making or receiving calls on a mobile phone whilst driving, even if a hands-free kit is fitted. Therefore, they should ensure their phone can take messages whilst they are driving, or arrange for a passenger to use the phone. The use of text messaging whilst driving is forbidden. Staff should plan journeys so they include rest stops every two hours during which time telephone messages can be checked and calls returned.

Driving and alcohol and/or drugs

Staff driving at work must not contravene the drink driving laws nor have taken drugs or medicines which adversely affect their ability to drive safely. Offenders will be deemed to have committed gross misconduct and will be subject to disciplinary action.

Drivers Hours

Company policy is to limit the drive to work, under normal conditions, to two hours.  Where longer journeys are unavoidable trips, should be planned to enable a break of 15 minutes to be taken after every two hours spent driving.  Where tachographs are fitted to vehicles the driver must fit his/her own tachograph chart and comply with the appropriate driving hours regulations.

Vehicle Accidents

Road traffic accidents will be investigated in a similar manner to other work related accidents.  Drivers and passengers may be interviewed to ascertain the circumstances relevant to the incident. Staff must co-operate with monitoring, reporting and investigation procedures. Drivers who are involved in one at fault accident will be required to successfully undertake a course of driver training before reinstatement.  At the discretion of the Transport Director the driver may be removed from the approved driver’s list.

Driving & Smoking

All vehicles display a ‘No Smoking’ sign, usually on the reverse of the tax disc holder.  Any user of a company vehicle must not smoke whilst in the vehicle.

Security

Drivers must ensure that when their vehicle is left unattended that it is immobilised, therefore, under no circumstances should keys be left in the ignition.

Staff who drive at work must comply with this policy and the drivers handbook and lead by example, both in the way they drive themselves and by not tolerating poor driving practice among colleagues.

                                                           

 

The policy has also been produced as a separate document and is on public display.

 

Reviewed October 2009