DFC, a local vehicle leasing and fleet management company is, in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), offering DFC clients, at no cost, the opportunity to take part in a half day RoSPA defensive driving course.
Speaking at DFC’s Belfast offices, Arlene Foster stressed the importance of road safety and added that she will do everything she can to reduce the number of road casualties in Northern Ireland.
She said: “I am pleased to launch this initiative by DFC Belfast and RoSPA to encourage drivers to drive defensively, reduce risks, and contribute to reducing death and injury on our roads. Bad driving behaviour is the main cause of road traffic collisions and employers have a responsibility to ensure that their employees who drive for work are encouraged to drive safely.
“I would urge other businesses to consider similar inexpensive schemes to improve driving standards. Not only do such initiatives benefit society by helping to prevent road casualties, they increase employees’ safety and wellbeing and can improve the company’s bottom line by reducing staff absences, insurance premiums and vehicle repair costs.
“Reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads is clearly to everyone’s benefit.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- It is estimated that up to one in three road crashes in GB involves a vehicle being driven for work. This equates to around 1,000 deaths every year.
- It is estimated that every week, in GB around 200 road deaths and serious injuries involves someone at work.
- Employers, managers and supervisors have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of all employees while they are at work. This law applies equally to on-the-road work activities.
