§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in reducing risks to professional drivers and other road users arising from the use of vehicles on the road for work purposes. [64703]
§ Mr. MealeThere has been no such assessment. The road safety of professional drivers is comprehensively covered by road traffic and other relevant legislation.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to promote management by employers of occupational road risk; and if he will make a statement. [64706]
§ Mr. MealeThe Government believe that employers should foster working practices which encourage responsible driving. We have therefore supported the work of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, including the publication in 1998 of "Managing Occupational Road Risk", to help organisations develop an effective management approach to road safety.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has made to the Health and Safety Commission about managing the risks to which employees and other road users are exposed when vehicles are driven on the road for work purposes. [64705]
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce regulations to reduce the risk of road accidents involving vehicles which are driven for work purposes. [64702]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThere are no plans to introduce regulations specifically to reduce the risk of road accidents involving vehicles driven for work purposes. Existing legislation (the Road Traffic Act 1988, related Acts, and associated regulations) already govern driving behaviour.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the proportion of fatal and serious injuries which occurred in road traffic accidents involving one or more vehicles being driven for work purposes. [64701]
§ Mr. MealeI have made no such estimate. This information is not collected by the Police. There is no requirement to report traffic accidents involving work-related journeys to the health and safety enforcing authorities under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the system of enforcement of safety regulations relating to the safer system of work for professional drivers. [64704]
§ Mr. MealeThere has been no such assessment because the road safety of professional drivers is comprehensively covered by road traffic and other 49W relevant legislation, where HSE has no enforcement role other than where the carriage of dangerous goods is concerned.