Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is urging businesses to book their place at a major regional briefing to help them strengthen workplace driving culture and save lives on the roads.
The free event, due to be held on 27th October at Durham University Business School, is part of the National Highways’ Driving for Better Business programme and aims to provide practical help to employers to improve safety and reduce risk for all those who drive or ride for work.
It is being jointed hosted by the North East Chamber of Commerce and the PCC, who is joint national lead for Roads Policing and Transport on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) and will be addressing delegates on the day.
Research on behalf of National Highways and RoadSafe found nearly one in three road deaths involves a driving-for-work journey.
Meanwhile, Department for Transport figures reveal the proportion of commercial drivers involved in fatal or serious collisions who tested positive for drink or drugs increased from 3% in 2015 to 11% in 2025.
Ardent road safety campaigner Joy Allen has made Safer Roads a priority within her Police, Crime and Justice Plan and is working locally and nationally to prevent deaths and serious injuries through a combination of education, employer engagement and robust enforcement.
She continues to call for more employers across the country to make road safety a boardroom priority, taking vital road safety messages directly to thousands of motorists through the Life is Precious campaign.
The seminar aims to educate employers that good practice does not just manage risk but is also better for business, reducing fuel consumption, tyre wear, maintenance costs and administrative time while lowering insurance premiums and the costs of compliance failures or ligation.
The events are designed to equip employers with the tools they need to uncover the gaps in work-related road risk management before it is too late.
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “I am proud to be partnering with the North East Chamber of Commerce and National Highways to host this event. Driving for work is one of the biggest risks many employees face, carrying significant legal, financial and reputational responsibilities for employers.
“Managing driver risk effectively saves lives, prevents serious injuries and makes good business sense, reducing costs, improving efficiency and protecting organisations from avoidable harm.
“When things go wrong, the consequences extend far beyond the driver, affecting families, communities and the reputation of the business itself. That is why road safety must be a boardroom priority.
“Whatever the size of your organisation, I encourage you to register. This is about more than policies and compliance. It is about building a culture where safe driving is everyone’s responsibility.”
Simon Turner, Engagement Manager for the award-winning and free to access Driving for Better Business programme from National Highways, and one of the five speakers at the event, said: “Many businesses mistakenly believe their duty of care for people who drive for work is covered but, in most cases, it isn’t. Too many organisations only discover the gaps in their management when they’re facing a courtroom, a major claim, or a life‑changing incident.
“Driving for work remains the biggest cause of workplace fatalities in the UK, with huge risk exposure for both management and drivers. Get it wrong and there can be huge operational and financial consequences. Good practice reduces that risk, and it can also significantly improve business performance too.”
John McCabe, Chief Executive, North East Chamber of Commerce: “Keeping people safe on our roads is a shared responsibility and an important part of being a good employer. Businesses have a vital role to play in promoting a strong safety culture, protecting their employees and other road users while reducing risk and improving business productivity.
“We are pleased to support the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Joy Allen and National Highways to help employers understand the practical steps they can take to make work-related road safety a priority. We would urge all North East employers to take part in this seminar.”
The event will cover a range of topics including legal responsibilities as an employer, managing drink and drug impairment, driver health and wellbeing, driver behaviour and vehicle safety and record keeping.
To register please use this link: https://luma.com/mpcnpfx9.
