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Attention: industrial correspondents, safety journals, union journals

Two pages

'Work fast, young die' warns TUC for Road Safety Week

The TUC is calling on employers to make sure their workers slow down for Road Safety Week 2002, which starts today (Monday), and which this year focuses on the way that speed on the roads kills children.

TUC General Secretary John Monks said: "As long as work means doing too much too quickly, impossible deadlines will mean that too many working people drive too fast. Speed kills people driving for a living, as well as having devastating effects on children using the roads. Employers need to control work-related road risks and by doing so could save hundreds of lives every year. We want employees to be able to do their jobs right and safely, not immediately and dangerously."

The TUC is concerned that employers are increasingly relying on workers to drive as part of their work (a recent study in Scotland found that just under half of employers - 46% - required at least one in ten of their workers to drive, with one in eight requiring more than half their workers to drive - 13%). The TUC believes this trend combined with long hours, ‘just-in-time’ management or tough sales targets are all leading workers to feel pressurized to drive faster for their work.

The TUC wants employers to develop Road Risk Policies (RRPs), covering risk assessment, use of alternatives to driving (such as tele-conferencing and use of public transport), proper rest breaks, driver awareness raising and training.

John Monks continued: 'There’s no excuse for people who drive too fast, but all too often the real villain is the manager who has persuaded their staff to suspend their better judgment and go too fast. Managers and workers need to know that if they drive fast, then they are unnecessarily risking the lives of young people.'

Notes to Editors: Road Safety Week is run annually by Brake, an independent road safety organisation. For further information contact them on www.brake.org.uk or 01484 559909.

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 8am-10pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.

Contacts: Media enquiries: 020 7467 1248 or 07699 744115 (pager) or email media@tuc.org.uk

Other enquiries: Owen Tudor, TUC Senior Policy Officer, on 07788 715261 or email otudor@tuc.org.uk

Press release (500 words) issued 23 Sep 2002