Trial Deployment of a Telephone Accident Reporting Process 

Trial Deployment of a Telephone Accident Reporting Process 

Following an approach by Royal Mail, a number of meetings have taken place between the company and the department on the above subject. At those meetings, we raised and have subsequently addressed a number of concerns over the proposed trial and are now satisfied that we have been able to agree a Terms of Reference, supplemented with further documents that will form a training package for those offices included in the trial.  

 

The documents included are:

 

• Terms of Reference

• Accident details card

• Proposed process chart for new reporting process

• Advice on use of PDA telephoning

• Advice and guidance at the scene of an accident

• LEX questions at the scene / following and RTA

 

The purpose of the trial is not to replace, change or amend the current reporting process contained within the Road Traffic Accident Procedure, but an attempt to speed up the process from the scene of the accident so that potential 3rd party claims can be dealt with as soon as possible. It is estimated that 63% of RTA’s do not arrive with LEX Autolease within the specified 24 hour reporting period, therefore leading to costs that could be avoidable when dealing with 3rd party claims, including being unable to recover the cost of damage to Royal Mail vehicles. It is further recognised that the quality of information reported on the ERICA form in many cases is missing or unclear which severely delays the legal process for Royal Mail solicitors, STRATA.

 

We recognise that our members can encounter a considerable amount of shock and stress when involved in an RTA, therefore, for the purpose of this trial, the driver has the opportunity to speak to someone more experienced in dealing with individuals following a RTA. At the same time, only if or when the driver deems it is safe to do so, they can telephone LEX Autolease from their PDA who will ask the driver a number of questions relating to the circumstances surrounding the accident that will provide immediate information to STRATA so that the legal process can commence as soon as possible. The conversation between LEX and the driver should only take around 7-8 minutes, and no delay to the delivery or collection of the mail following an RTA and entering this process will be held against the driver. The safety and wellbeing of the driver is paramount, therefore the driver can make the call when they get back to their office if they chose to. To ensure the viability of the trial we would encourage full co-operation/participation from drivers and delivery office managers.

 

 

Participation and feedback from the trial offices will be through CWU Divisional Representatives, Delivery Directors, DSMs, DOMs, CWU Representatives and drivers on a monthly basis. Discussions with these individuals will take place prior to the commencement of the trial.

 

The trials are due to commence on the 16th November 2015, and will be jointly assessed by Royal Mail and CWU at the end of a 3 month period. Further roll out will only take place following the assessment and through agreement.

 

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 300.02

Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org

 

 

Yours sincerely

 
 

Bob Gibson

CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor