Random

The problem at this point is that you then rely on a hefty dose of personal responsibility and self-management of risk. Which is where it gets ever more difficult to manage!

But self management only goes so far if you have staff driving for work in an irresponsible manner which as a company you have not told them not to do. I appreciate that the law is a bit grey when it comes to hands free use whilst driving and it’s not specifically an offence, the offence is being distracted which will always be subjective and open to the discretion of the police officer. But I’ve dealt with firms who have actively ordered vehicles with Bluetooth so that travelling sales staff can make their sales calls whilst on the road between meetings and there is no way that it is safe to drive whilst trying to hold such conversations with clients. This is why I advise them to put in their driving policy that hands free calls are not to be made whilst driving. If their staff choose to use the system to call their other half when they’re on the way home from the office, the company’s liability is a bit more limited but whilst they are driving for work purposes the business has a responsibility to ensure they are doing so safely. 

Its no different to if they fall asleep at the wheel at 7pm because they set out at 4am to travel half the country and back in a single day. If you have a policy of stipulating breaks every 2 hours and providing hotels for staff who have to travel such distances then it is the drivers responsibility but if the business discourages overnight stays and management know they’re staff are driving too far in a day then there is a level of liability for accidents that ensue. 

It is a difficult point, self determination and being fit to drive is something we are responsible for. If I have alcohol and drive I have taken responsibility for that. Ditto when fatigued or after taking medication. I do not do these things but know others will do so. A diabetic who (As some do) treats their problem in a blase manner and uses insulin as a treatment for too much alcohol (Some diabetic drinkers do this all the time) should be responsible for their actions just like anyone else. Some companies will treat the whole thing as an inconvenience and tell their drivers that if they refuse to answer their phone while driving they will be fired and in that situation BOTH are responsible. As far as driving and being responsible for the condition of my car, I am responsible and behave in accordance with that. Driverless cars are coming like the speed limiters and it looks like the idiots out there are going to ruin it for everyone, again. How long before those who drive themselves or have a vehicle without autonomus/speed limiting active are banned from dual carriageways/motorways?

Just a side point, when someone is on company business and acting on behalf of a company, the company are responsible. Regardless of telling the idiot what to do or not.

I want everyone to be safe on the road. The argument about phone conversations being no less distracting than talking to a passenger or listening to the radio is often made and was trotted out when the initial bans on handheld phones was bought in. It is more dangerous than conversing with a passenger. For one thing most passengers will be also be aware of what is going on around the car and will not ask you for product information whilst you negotiate a busy roundabout. That’s not to say internal factors within the car can cause distraction and you can be prosecuted for causing an accident because you were busy changing a CD or arguing with your children but you cannot get rid of all distractions and no company would try to ban workers playing the radio in their car. But it has been proven that using a phone, even hands free, is even more of a distraction so I’m not sure why we’re arguing about it!

I’m not saying we have to completely discard of self management but companies do have to understand that it is a business risk to have staff driving whilst distracted. 

Weird blog from the land of the Septic's. The unwanted blog up-ship.com/blog/ .

Ouch! I haven't been stung by anything but nettles since I was a child and I hope it continues that way.

Lionel Messi . Wow . The greatest theres ever been . We should be thankful we’ve seen him in our lifetime

Heard of the fella but never seen any of his stuff. Didn't he get done for not paying taxes?

No, I'm serious. Footballers aren't on my radar at all. 

Sadly, NOT Fulham. Oh well, championship again next season.

I tend to filter out the sports news as white noise.

Ouch I hope it gets sorted quickly

Reaction? Infected? How's it going now?

Fingers crossed the swelling goes down soon.