LTB 123/2021 – Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash (FY21 005) – Serious and Fatal Road Traffic Accidents involving Royal Mail Group Vehicles:
No. 123/2021
25 March 2021
Our Ref: V4/21
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Royal Mail Group (SHE) Safety Flash (FY21 005) – Serious and Fatal Road Traffic Accidents involving Royal Mail Group Vehicles:
Overview and Background:
Royal Mail Group Safety Health and Environment Group have issued ‘Safety Flash’, number FY21 005, (copy attached), which gives a summary report of 10 tragic, Serious and Fatal Road Traffic Accidents which have occurred over the last 12 months which is to form the basis of a Unit Briefing for ALL ROYAL MAIL DRIVERS in order to raise awareness of the potential ‘Road Risk’ of serious RTCs and the important need to always drive with utmost care at all times.
Description of the Incidents
- There have been 10 serious RTCs in the last 12 months involving RMG vehicles resulting in life-changing injuries or fatalities:
Two incidents in which a third-party pedestrian in the road was hit by a RMG vehicle;
Two incidents in which a RMG vehicle impacted with a third-party vehicle from the rear;
Three incidents in which a RMG vehicle and a third-party vehicle impacted in a head-on collision;
One incident in which a third-party pedestrian was hit by a reversing RMG vehicle;
One incident in which a RMG vehicle left the road and exited down an embankment;
One incident where bricks were thrown from a bridge on to a RMG vehicle.
Key Learning Points, Management Activities and Messages to Staff
- Communicate and display this SHE Flash on the SHE Noticeboard.
Brief all drivers on this SHE Flash, alerting them to the listed RTC incidents.
Fatal and Serious RTC incidents can and do happen to RMG drivers resulting in fatalities or life-changing injuries.
These incidents can happen and do happen on any type of road and at any time.
Fatal and serious incidents, regardless of blame, can be life changing for all involved.
These incidents often involve vulnerable persons – such as motorcyclists or pedestrians.
The impact of a fatality or life-changing injury will be devastating for all those involved and can result in a long period of uncertainty and stress for drivers dealing with the police and enforcement authorities.
Ensure driver training is completed when possible.
Ensure the Driver SSoWs and the Highway Code is adhered to.
Consider vulnerable persons as a particular risk.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer