Driver Fatigue and Road Accidents

 

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Fatigue is a major contributory factor in crashes in the UK, with too little sleep radically affecting driver attention, awareness, reaction time and ability to control the vehicle.

Driver fatigue is a serious problem resulting in many thousands of road accidents each year. It is not possible to calculate the exact number of sleep related accidents but research shows that driver fatigue may be a contributory factor in up to 20% of road accidents, and up to one quarter of fatal and serious accidents.

These types of crashes are about 50% more likely to result in death or serious injury as they tend to be high speed impacts because a driver who has fallen asleep cannot brake or swerve to avoid or reduce the impact.

About 40% of sleep-related accidents involve commercial vehicles, drivers, often in the largest vehicles on our roads that can cause the most harm in a crash.

Sleepiness reduces reaction time (a critical element of safe driving). It also reduces vigilance, alertness and concentration so that the ability to perform attention-based activities (such as driving) is impaired. The speed at which information is processed is also reduced by sleepiness. The quality of decision-making may also be affected.

Experts tell us that it is clear that drivers are aware when they are feeling sleepy, and so make a conscious decision about whether to continue driving or to stop for a rest. It may be that those who persist in driving underestimate the risk of actually falling asleep while driving. Or it may be that some drivers choose to ignore the risks (in the way that drink drivers do). Studies have shown that drivers don’t fall asleep without warning. Drivers who fall asleep at the wheel have often tried to fight off drowsiness by opening a window, or by turning up the radio. This doesn’t work for long.

Signs of fatigue

Research shows normal sleep does not occur without warning, and most people recognise symptoms but underestimate the dangers of continuing to drive. Warning signs include:

• Increased difficulty concentrating;

• Yawning;

• Heavy eyelids;

• Eyes starting to ‘roll’;

• Neck muscles relaxing, making the head droop.

• ‘Microsleep’ occurs when someone nods off for a few seconds without realising orremembering it, known as head-nodding. This occurs when drivers are tired but trying to stay awake, a ‘THINK’ survey found one in three (31%) UK drivers surveyed admit having experienced a microsleep at the wheel. The driver may feel like they’ve just briefly nodded their head, but they have actually been asleep. In six seconds, a vehicle being driven at 70mph travels about 200 metres! The key facts

• Research suggests that almost 20%, 1 in 5 of crashes resulting in death on major roads are sleep or fatigue-related.

• Sleep-related accidents are more likely than others to result in a fatality or serious injury.

• Peak times for accidents are in the early hours between 2am and 6am and after lunch 2pmand 4pm.

• About 40% of sleep-related accidents involve commercial vehicles, drivers, often in thelargest vehicles on our roads that can cause the most harm in a crash.

• Research has shown motorways and dual carriageways are the most common roads forsleep-related crashes, due to the monotonous road environment and lack of interruptions or driver stimulation. Crashes caused by tired drivers are most likely to happen:

• On long journeys on monotonous roads, such as motorways.

• After having less sleep than normal.

• After drinking alcohol – (remembering the morning after effect).

• If taking medicines that cause drowsiness.

• After long working hours or on journeys home after long shifts, especially night shifts’.‘THINK!’, ‘Brake’ and ‘RoSPA’ Advice

• Plan your journey to include a 15-minute break every two hours.

• Don’t start a long trip if you’re already tired.

• Remember the risks if you have to get up unusually early to start a long drive.

• Try to avoid long trips between midnight and 6am when you’re likely to feel sleepy anyway.

• If you start to feel sleepy, find a safe place to stop – not the hard shoulder of a motorway.Drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink and have a rest or nap for 15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in.

• Remember, the only real cure for sleepiness is proper sleep. A caffeine drink or a nap is ashort-term solution that will only allow you to keep driving for a short time. WATCH THESE HARD HITTING VIDEOs:
THINK! ‘Don’t drive tired videos are at these links:
and
Think Posters – Attachments:

See attached pdf copies of ‘Think’ “Tiredness Kills Posters and Leaflet. Hard copies are being circulated to Branches and Regional Health and Safety Forums, as follows:-

1) Tiredness Kills – Poster (A4 and A3 sizes)

2) Wake Up To The Signs of Tiredness – Folded Leaflet

Other Resources/Attachments:

3) ‘THINK-RSSB’ – ‘Driving for Work: Managing Fatigue Risks, A Guide for Road Vehicle Drivers and their Manager (28 Page Guide). Pdf

4) ‘THINK’ – ‘Driving When Tired’ Fact Sheet.

Legislation on fatigue – Police investigations and penalties for killing someone due to

fatigue-related driving:

A tired driver who kills someone can be charged with death by dangerous driving (if the nature of their driving was perceived to be dangerous) or death by careless driving (a lesser charge for less dangerous driving). The maximum penalty for death by dangerous driving is 14 years imprisonment and the maximum penalty for death by careless driving is five years. The difference between ‘careless’ and ‘dangerous’ driving in the eyes of the law is slight and subjective: it’s the difference between someone’s driving falling below or well below what is expected of a careful and competent driver.

Commercial Vehicle Legislation

In the UK companies operating fleets of vehicles have a legal duty of care to “ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees while at work” and are responsible for what might happen if this is not done. This “applies to all on-the-road work activities as to all work activities”. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) employers must assess the risks involved in staff use of the road for work and put in place all reasonably practical measures to manage driver fatigue. Employers need to assess which drivers and journeys are at risk and set schedules that do not require drivers to exceed recommended working limits and driver hours laws. Professional drivers of goods and passenger road vehicles must comply with the UK and EU Drivers Hours Rules or regulations which limit time at the wheel and specify that Drivers must legally take breaks. Heavy commercial vehicles have a tachograph, which records how long they have been driving and breaks taken. This information, along with any available telematics information from event data recorders, can be studied by Police if the vehicle is involved in a crash. Light Commercial Van Drivers are covered by the GB Domestics Drivers Hours Rules and Limits. These rules restrict a driving day to ten hours with a 30 minute break after 5.5 hours’ driving, or 45 minutes taken at times within an 8.5 hour driving shift.

Remind Drivers that it’s vitally important that they should always:

• Try to ensure they are well rested, and feeling fit and healthy before driving,

• Not take medication which advises against driving before starting long journeys,

• Make sure they take their rest breaks,

• Take extra care when driving at night, especially between 2am and 6am and when drivingbetween 2pm and 4pm (especially after having eaten a significant meal),

• Avoid drinking any alcohol and remember the morning after effect,

• If feeling sleepy or drowsy during a journey, take a break, grab a coffee and if need be takea short nap.

• Have regular eye tests or arrange a test if they’ve noticed any problems with their eyesight, (do the self-test of reading a number plate from 20 metres),

• If they have stress issues, request a stress risk assessment and request ‘feeling first class’support,

• Make sure they are aware of health conditions that may impair their driving and if unsure consult their GP.

• If they take any medication that may be affecting their ability to drive, speak to their GP,

• If they have a sleep disorder which may put them at higher risk, discuss it with their GP.Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
This LTB has been compiled in conjunction with “Think” – the Government Road Safety Information and Guidance Organisation, “Brake” the Road Safety Charity, “RoSPA” the

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Charity” and the “DfT”. It

is being issued in conjunction with the Joint Royal Mail Group/CWU/Unite CMA Road

Safety Communications Campaign Week, September 2017.

17LTB499 Driver Fatigue and Road Accidents

Driving for Work Managing Fatigue Risks Guide (Think RSSB)

THINK! Advice – Driving When Tired – Factsheet

Tiredness Kills Poster (THINK)

 

CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference – Wednesday 22nd November 2017

The CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference will be held on Wednesday 22nd November 2017 in the Conference Hall, City Hall, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR.

Creche Facilities/Prayer Rooms/Seating

In order that we can cater for any delegate(s) with special needs such as seating, it is

important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than Tuesday 31st October 2017.

Crèche facilities will be available to delegates during the Conference and Branches should advise the SDGS Department in writing, by return, but no later than Tuesday 31st October 2017 if they require the use of this facility. Please ensure that the names and ages of the children, together with an appropriate address for sending the crèche form to for completion are included in this advice. It will not be possible to provide on the spot facilities to those delegates who have not informed us in advance.

Motions

Each Branch is entitled to submit one motion for consideration to be included on the agenda of the Conference. Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.org using the template attached. Branches who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

The LGBT Advisory Committee are entitled to submit up to three motions to the conference standing in their name.

Each Regional Equality Committee are entitled to submit one motion to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality Conference.

Motion forms must be returned by midnight on Tuesday 31st October 2017.   All sections of the form must be completed.

Branches and the Advisory Committee are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the motions submitted therefore it is important that motions are checked before they are submitted.

Motion forms must be returned by midnight on Tuesday 31st October 2017.   All sections of the form must be completed.

As with previous Equality Conferences, the agenda will be structured in such a way as to maximise debate and participation by delegates. There will be two sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee would not be admissible to the General Conference agenda.

Branches will be aware that with the carriage of Composite Rule Amendment 126 at General Conference 2013, the LGBT Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit two motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference and one motion to the Postal Group and Telecoms Industry Conferences. It is therefore important that if branches wish their motions to be considered for General Conference they must contain policy that is capable of being discharged by the NEC, as opposed to either of the Industrial Executives.

As with previous Equality Conferences, the motions for submission to the General Conference, Postal Group and Telecoms Industry agenda will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Conference. A ballot to select the motions will be held at the Conference and further information will be contained within the conference standing orders.

Please note that all correspondence must be sent to conferences@cwu.org and no other personal email address.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven either by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

17LTB496 – LGBT Conference

CWU Women’s Conference – Tuesday 21st November 2017

The CWU Women’s Conference will be held on Tuesday 21st November in the Conference Hall at City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.

Creche Facilities/Prayer Rooms/Seating

In order that we can cater for any delegate(s) with special needs such as seating, it is

important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than Tuesday 31st October 2017.

Crèche facilities will be available to delegates during the Conference and Branches should advise the SDGS Department in writing, by return, but no later than Tuesday 31st October 2017 if they require the use of this facility. Please ensure that the names and ages of the children, together with an appropriate address for sending the crèche form to for completion are included in this advice. It will not be possible to provide on the spot facilities to those delegates who have not informed us in advance.

Motions

Each Branch is entitled to submit one motion for consideration to be included on the agenda of the Conference. Motions should be submitted electronically to conferences@cwu.org using the template attached. Branches who do not have this facility may request paper motion forms by contacting Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

The Women’s Advisory Committee are entitled to submit up to three motions to the conference standing in their name.

Each Regional Women’s Committee are entitled to submit one motion to the Women’s Equality Conference.

Each Regional Equality Committee are entitled to submit one motion to the Women’s conference.

Branches and the Advisory Committee are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the motions submitted therefore it is important that motions are checked before they are submitted.

Motion forms must be returned by midnight on Tuesday 31st October 2017.   All sections of the form must be completed.

As with previous Equality Conferences, the agenda will be structured in such a way as to maximise debate and participation by delegates. There will be two sections to the agenda, one for motions which are eligible for consideration for submission to General Conference, and one for motions that in the view of the Standing Orders Committee would not be admissible to the General Conference agenda.

Branches will be aware that with the carriage of Composite Rule Amendment 126 at General Conference 2013, the Women’s Conference has the entitlement under the rules of the union to submit two motions to stand in the name of the conference to General Conference and one motion to the Postal Group and Telecoms Industry Conferences. It is therefore important that if branches wish their motions to be considered for General Conference they must contain policy that is capable of being discharged by the NEC, as opposed to either of the Industrial Executives.

As with previous Equality Conferences, the motions for submission to the General Conference, Postal Group and Telecoms Industry agenda will be decided from amongst those motions adopted at the Conference. A ballot to select the motions will be held at the Conference and further information will be contained within the conference standing orders.

Please note that all correspondence must be sent to conferences@cwu.org and no other personal email address.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven either by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

 

Yours sincerely,

 

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

17LTB495 – Womens Conference

Womens Motion Form 2017

Womens Guidance 2017

 

Work Place Coach Agreement

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

Over the past couple of months the Outdoor Department has received numerous enquiries from Branches along with examples of where Royal Mail managers in some localities are attempting to give Workplace Coaches (WPC) extra tasks to perform; tasks that have not been agreed and are outside of those that are agreed and contained within the relevant National Agreement.

 

In receiving these examples from Branches we have contacted the senior relevant National management within Royal Mail and expressed our concern and dissatisfaction to them, also along with the evidence we have received from different parts of the country which has clearly demonstrated that local Royal Mail management have attempted to pass on un-agreed and in some cases managerial tasks for WPC’s to perform.

 

Royal Mail senior management in these instances has acted upon this information and has ensured that these un-agreed tasks have been removed. Unfortunately following this approach by ourselves at a National level, we have found ourselves once again having to contact Royal Mail, again presenting them with further evidence that un-agreed tasks were still being given to WPC’s, whilst also reiterating our concern and anger at this.

 

Accordingly therefore, we feel that it is necessary to issue our own advice along with recirculating the current National Workplace Coach agreement.  We would therefore request that Branches provide their local representatives with the National agreement and also ensure that any discussions that take place between themselves and the office Workplace Coach/s fully ensures that the tasks they are carrying out are those that are agreed and in line with the National agreement, and contained within the WPC training materials that have also been discussed and agreed nationally. However if this is not the case and the National agreement is not being adhered to, can Branches please ensure that these are progressed through the IR framework.

 

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 230, email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Mark Baulch                                    

CWU Assistant Secretary Outdoor

LTB 487.17 – Work Place Coach Agreement

14LTB496a

National Agreement Workplace Coach Programme for Delivery and Collection 2014

Appendix 1 Workplace Coach Delivery and Collection Guide