Survey Road safety

are applied. We need to work together towards wider adoption.” But even if there’s relatively low take-

up of contractually-driven safety schemes today, what does the sample think is the way forward tomorrow? Perhaps not surprisingly, the solution that drew most support (63%) was improving highway design — building safety into our roads with segregated cycleways and barriers. In second place, 42% wanted to see safer vehicle designs on the market, and 40% wanted better uptake of retrofi t safety systems, such as cameras and sensors to detect when cyclists enter blindspots. On these two approaches, Mike Eames

of CLOCS says that introducing better- designed vehicles onto the market — a priority championed by CLOCS — will ultimately have more impact. “We’re bringing the industry and vehicle manufacturers together to re-engineer

the design of construction vehicles,” says Eames. “The manufacturers are saying, ‘no one has asked us for safer construction vehicles before’. Retrofi tting is useful, but if you can redesign the cab, you’re achieving a lot more than putting TV screens in a cab and making the driver have to check them.” But some fl eet operators aren’t waiting for CLOCS: SIG Distribution, for instance, has introduced its new urban vehicle for London, featuring a low-level windscreen and full glass near-side doors. However, there was less support for

another CLOCS theme — improving transparency of accident data across the industry was supported by only 22%. Eames feels this is because the industry has not quite grasped how useful and informative it could be to have pooled, anonymised data on road accidents and near misses. But Jack Semple, director of

What do you think are the best way(s) to boost road safety linked to construction?

600 800

Which of the following do you believe is holding back road safety in construction?

“What are the causes of incidents regarding cyclists? The best we have is the coroner’s reports, which actually give us the cause.” Jack Semple, RHA

policy at the Road Haulage Association, believes the industry isn’t so much lacking hard statistical data on accidents, as a full understanding of the factors contributing to them. “A small amount of understanding is

better than a large amount of data. But what are the causes of incidents regarding cyclists? The best we have at the moment is the coroner’s reports,” says Semple. “The data doesn’t tell you all you need to know, my sense is people need a deeper understanding.” But, in joint second place with 42% support was a very simple option: better enforcement of the road safety regulations we already have. Semple believes that this refl ects a feeling, in London, that the Metropolitan Police and the Department of Transport’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (formerly the Vehicle and Operator Service Agency) have been soft-pedalling. He argues this was only reversed in October 2013, with the launch of a joint police and DVSA Industrial HGV Taskforce. Conversely, better take-up of voluntary

700 500

■ Improve highway design eg improved segregation between vulnerable road users and vehicles

400

■ Levying a fine on any HGV not fitted with basic safety equipment

■ A ban on HGV deliveries during working hours

300

■ More take-up of voluntary standards as contractual conditions

■ More enforcement of existing regulations

■ More involvement from industry trade and member associations, eg NFB, UKCG, CPA

200

■ More transparency on accident data across the industry

■ More uptake of optional safety features already available for vehicles

■ Improved availability of safer vehicle designs

100

■ Improved availability of vehicle safety systems

100 600

■ Different approaches in different parts of the country vulnerable road

■ Unwillingness in some quarters of the industry to take responsibility

500

■ Length of supply chains - eg waste and demolition contractors viewed as a separate sector

400

■ Lack of client/developer and Tier 1 contractor engagement on the issue

■ Contractual implementa- tion of voluntary safety standards by clients/developers

300

■ Lack of client/developer awareness

200

■ Conflicting standards and lack of mutual recognition between the various standards

■ Lack of safety features from vehicle manufacturers

■ Scepticism about the benefits of optional safety features and designs

■ Lack of awareness of safer vehicle designs, vehicle safety features or safety legislation

0

The sample’s views on what could be done to advance road safety — and what was holding it back — threw up some surprises. While changing road layouts and road design drew the most support, there was also a clear vote for better enforcement of existing regulations (42%). Relatively few (20%) seemed to think that more involvement from trade associations and professional institutions would make a positive difference. Asked for ideas, one suggestion was that the industry should consider restrictions on working hours rather than an outright ban, and another was for a contractual levy to fi nance local authority-run Cycling Profi ciency tests.

28 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER 0

On the brakes to progress, 60% agreed there was a lack of willingness in some sections of the industry to take responsibility. Among clients, the most-selected answer was lack of awareness of the safety features available. Asked for comments, one respondent pithily offered “lack of leadership”, while another cited lack of data on which safety systems work best. But the most frequent comment was simply “cost”.

standards along the supply chain was supported by only 17% of the total sample — although by 56% of respondents who worked for contractors in the £200m plus group. A ban on HGV deliveries during working hours drew just 3% support. Philip Moon, marketing manager for

DAF trucks, says that the spread of responses, and lack of consensus on the way forward, highlights the complexity of the issue. “There’s a broad scope of issues holding back safety, and improving highway design is diffi cult for the industry to infl uence directly,” says Moon. “But it was interesting that safer vehicles featured quite strongly.” The survey offers interesting insights

into current thinking. While there’s a clear appetite for the industry to get a better grip on the issue, there’s also the unmistakable impression that the London- led FORS and CLOCS schemes are struggling to build awareness and uptake. The way forward surely needs a

concerted effort to embed these higher safety standards into supply chains, but also perhaps to recognise the existing DVSA-driven regulation and HSE guidance. But undoubtedly, a tougher industry-wide response will reduce the likelihood that your company, client or project ever faces those uncomfortable questions. CM

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