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

3. 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)

4. 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
Killed 43
Seriously injured 432
Slightly injured 1,959
Total 2,434
Statistics:
Vehicle/pedestrian collisions on footway/verge
Data Source: Department for Transport Stats

5. 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 ed 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. DRoPs@Biffa.co.uk #stopDROPS