Dangerous Driving around Refuse Crews & Vehicles 2nd October 2019 Paul Wright – Biffa Group Health and Safety Director

DRoPs – Driving Recklessly on Pavements Refuse collection vehicles can impact traffic flow while they carry out their operations Although a short term hindrance, motorists use the pavement as a route passed Quite often this is done at speed and on blind bends, putting workers and members of the public at risk (Note: All Waste collection companies and Local Authorities carry out Route Risk Assessments, these allow us to avoid busy roads and the starting and leaving time of schools forcing us into side roads which can sometimes have space restrictions for our vehicles)

Not just a waste industry issue (Note: These figures have not reduced since 2011 and do not include figures where an age wasn’t given) DFT statistics (latest 2016) show 10% of all vehicle pedestrian collisions are on the Footway/Verge. Example 2016 - Killed 43 Seriously injured 432 Slightly injured 1,959 Total 2,434 Statistics: Vehicle/pedestrian collisions on footway/verge Data Source: Department for Transport Stats19 - 2017

Reporting DRoPs events at Biffa CCTV footage is currently needed as evidence A bespoke DRoPs witness statement is completed by the person who witnessed the event. This is scanned and emailed to the police by the site management On receipt the police Traffic Office access a dedicated upload portal, where footage has been stored, and determine if there is a case to prosecute Police send a letter to the vehicle owner requesting the details of the driver Offenders are issued either penalty points or are asked to attend a Drive4Change course Only serious incidents are reported so as not to overwhelm the Police – Speed is main determinate. Driving4change is currently being updated and DRoPs footage has been offered in an attempt to reach offenders. A lot of other forces take DRoPs reports, but use their own method of reporting.

Reporting DRoPs events at Biffa Only serious incidents are reported to the Police Staffordshire Kent Norfolk Suffolk Gloucestershire Warwickshire West Yorkshire Only serious incidents are reported so as not to overwhelm the police – Speed is main determinate. Driving4change is currently being updated and DRoPs footage has been offered in an attempt to reach offenders. A lot of other forces take DRoPs reports, but use their own method of reporting.

Other ways of reporting DRoPs events A new dedicated police Dash Cam Police Portal has been developed Not all police divisions are live yet Refer to Dash Cam national website to find out if your force is involved The site is very new and as yet we have no feedback on how this is working for reporting DRoPs incidents. The interactive map allows you to click on a police force which will open up each force’s dedicated Dash Cam reporting webpage. (This may differ from force to force.) If a reporting page does not open it will give you a status update on its development.

Raising the profile and awareness This now forms part of the HSE’s “Helping Great Britain Work Well” commitments Supported by both Unite and the GMB unions Articles have appeared in a number of industry publications

Public awareness Biffa Cannock and South Staffs depot reports have resulted in multiple prosecutions since the involvement of Staffordshire Police between 2015 and 2017 ITV, BBC TV and radio promotion Social media hits now over 1 million Local and National newspaper publicity Locally focussed initiatives developed to raise local awareness

DRoPs and newly qualified drivers Biffa have been working with ‘Good Egg Safety’ to highlight the dangers of Driving Recklessly on Pavements Biffa will be targeting new drivers and have invested in promoting the dangers of DRoPs in the Good Egg New Driver Guide that is currently being piloted at 6 DVSA test centres Good Egg Safety is a Not for Profit organisation that has a focus on Driving Safety for teenagers at an age when they are learning to drive – Going into schools.

Newly qualified driver guidance and information This Driver Guide is also available as a free download from over 400 Local Authority websites

Observations, challenges and opportunities Not all police forces have a method of reporting CCTV evidence of the incident is critical for reporting Refuse collection crews have become conditioned to the DRoPs risk A bigger focus is needed to encourage employees to report The National Police Reporting Site still has some forces showing as in ‘build’ status or ‘No reporting system in place’. CCTV footage is required to be able to successfully report incidents but the websites allow you to upload footage. Crews see it as “part of the job” which is a dangerous mindset to have. Incidents are still going unreported in some areas.

Summary – successes so far The number of DRoPs incidents has reduced Pilot trial for DRoPs awareness advert targeting new drivers at the start Support gained from a number of influential organisations such as RoSPA, the HSE, the National Road Safety Committee and the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety Other Local Authorities are joining the campaign The pilot trial is currently in 4 driving test centres in the UK allowing us to focus on drivers fresh from passing their test with few bad habits. –This guide is also available to download on over 400 Local Authority websites Biffa internal and external initiatives have proven to reduced DRoPs incidents. Other organisations include the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association, the DVSA, RoSPA and unions. Birmingham City Council – just started. Kent Waste Partnership – Launch Feb 2019.

Opportunities – where do we go from here? This isn’t just an industry issue… it’s national Target occupational drivers across the UK Include driver CPC training across the UK Promotion of slowing down around service vehicles and road workers Include road work incursions to support the Highways Traffic Management Association and awareness to roadside vehicle repair workers CPC providers were being contacted one by one, but each individual training provider would still have to get it approved by JAUPT. This will be sent out as an add on to the “Vulnerable Road Users” course. This was seen as an opportunity to focus on reducing the risk to crews and road workers being hit by cars speeding around them. This, under the same “Slow Down to Get Around” law that is used in 15 US States, that was initially put in place to reduce the deaths of refuse workers. It was expanded to all service vehicles and road workers. It was felt that including both the road workers and roadside vehicle repairs issues was the right thing to do. Royal Mail want their delivery operatives to be aware of the risk to them on pavements. There is currently nothing in the highway code about slowing down around service vehicles and road workers, only ice cream vans – update needed. The AA, RAC and Green Flag are currently trying to bring in a change to the Highway Code under “Slow Down, Move out”. Potential opportunity to work together.

DRoPs@Biffa.co.uk #stopDROPS