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T ransport can be hazardous to your health. In 2000/01 road haulage was marred by 99 workplace fatali
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ties, 2,490 major injuries and 5,857 injuries requiring three or more days off work. In response the Health and Safety Executive has launched a campaign to reduce vehicle-related accidents in the workplace by 5% by 2004 and by a further 5% by 2010.
The HSE reports that over 90% of accidents are caused by driver error, with vehicle failure responsible for 5% and environmental factors for 2%. It is targeting drivers and employers with an interactive CD-ROM for driver training (see overleaf).
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers are required to identify and reduce the risks of activities involving vehicles. The government also plans to introduce legislation enabling manslaughter charges to be brought against companies and senior managers. If vehicles are not equipped with sensors or cameras and a reversing accident ntiOit be difficult to mount a defence that due care and attention has been taken.
As well as potentially keeping directors out of jail, reversing aids make sense from a commercial view. The University of Huddersfield has estimated the average cost of a reversing accident at L47o—operators report that these systems generally pay for themselves within a year to 18 months. A wide range of equipment has been developed to reduce the risk of tragedy.