This year you and your staff face tougher penalties for road safety transgressions – such as using a hand-held mobile. Here’s guidance on how to avoid them in the first place by RoSPA expert Charles Davis. Road safety law is being given extra teeth.

Tougher penalties and new offences are being introduced under the Road Safety Act.

For example, stronger measures against hand-held mobile use while driving will become law from 27 February 2007. Small businesses need to make themselves aware of the changes and inform their employees.

This applies to all those who use the road for work purposes.

That means delivery drivers, sales staff, or those who travel to meetings or journey between sites.

So what are the changes being made under the new Road Safety Bill?

• Tougher punishment for using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel (three penalty points and higher on-the-spot fines)
• Repeat drink-drivers could be made to retake their driving test
• The range of penalty points for speeding will be extended
• New offences of causing death by careless driving or causing death by driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured

So what actions should small business owners do to ensure they and their staff remain the correct side of the law?

First, become familiar with the law. Then consider company policies on the use of mobile phones and safer speeds. For example:

RoSPA advice on mobile phones is:

• Switch mobile phones off or to voicemail while driving
• Stop in a safe place to check messages
• Good communication can be maintained without using a phone while driving
• Consider the legal, financial and bad PR consequences that could result from using a mobile phone while driving

RoSPA advice on safer speeds is:

• Expect safe driving from everyone
• Raise awareness at recruitment and staff appraisals
• Remind staff of the increased dangers caused by driving at inappropriate speed
• Allow sufficient time to complete journeys within speed limits

Acting now to ensure road risk arrangements are up to scratch is timely. The new offence of corporate manslaughter is expected to become law next year. It will bring a renewed focus on the health and safety responsibilities of business car managers.

If you want more detailed free guidance on some of the issues raised here, then RoSPA has a resource centre which small business owners can access at: www.www.rospa.com/roadsafety/resources/employers.htm