09 December 2003
RoSPA is to give bosses free courses on the dangers of drinking and driving in an effort to keep employees and other road-users safe.
Representatives from the first 30 businesses or organisations to apply will be offered an early Christmas present of a free place on courses to be held next year.
The aim is to give them facts and advice which can be used to help employees not to drive when they may still have alcohol in their bodies.
Charles Davis, RoSPA Head of Driver and Fleet Solutions, said: “Christmas is the time when the drink-drive threat is highlighted most, but it is a problem which is with us all-year-round. If someone is caught drinking and driving, it can have catastrophic effects both on the individuals concerned and businesses.
“Innocent people may be killed or injured, employees may well lose their jobs and employers face the costly business of replacing experienced staff.
“Far too many people still do not understand how easy it is to fail a breath test, especially the morning after a few drinks. People who test positive next day often say they wish they had been given the knowledge to prevent them facing a ban.”
RoSPA runs one-day courses for employees to learn more about issues such as the strength of different types of alcoholic drink and how little it takes to be “over the limit”. It is not only aimed at fleet drivers, as other employees who use their car for commuting may not be able to get to work if they are banned.
Research has shown that drivers do not perceive “morning-after motoring” as being as dangerous as “same-day” drinking. Company drivers are more likely than private motorists to see driving after drinking heavily the night before as less dangerous.
Charles Davis said: ”With between 800 and 1,000 deaths on Britain’s roads in some way work-related, it is important that employers take road safety seriously. That is why we are offering 30 bosses a chance to attend our courses in Birmingham and Reading free so that they can see how their workers would benefit from being given more knowledge about this subject.”
Employers wishing to have a chance of one of the free places should contact Donna Grady on 0121 248 2124. Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and subject to the applicants being able to attend on the date and at the place stipulated by RoSPA.
There were an estimated 560 drink-drive fatalities in Britain last year.