The Government is moving towards a new National Work-Related Road Safety Charter designed to improve safety for people who drive or ride as part of their jobs. The proposed initiative will place greater emphasis on how businesses identify, manage and reduce the risks associated with work-related journeys, covering everything from company cars and vans to motorcycles and bicycles.
For UK businesses operating commercial vehicles or managing employees who travel for work, the proposed Charter is an important development. It comes alongside existing employer responsibilities under health and safety legislation and could encourage organisations to take a closer look at their driver policies, vehicle standards, training procedures and fleet risk management.
Although the Charter is still being developed, businesses should not wait until its formal introduction to review their arrangements. Understanding existing responsibilities and identifying potential weaknesses now could help organisations prepare for the changes ahead.
What Is The National Work-Related Road Safety Charter?
The National Work-Related Road Safety Charter is a proposed Government initiative intended to encourage businesses to adopt higher standards of road safety when employees drive or ride for work.
The scale of the issue is significant. Government figures estimate that around one in three road traffic fatalities involves someone driving or riding for work. This highlights why work-related road safety is an important responsibility for employers, particularly those operating company vehicles, managing grey fleets or requiring employees to travel between business locations.
Announced as part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy in January 2026, the Charter aims to reduce work-related road risk, improve compliance with existing legislation and promote good practice across organisations.
Its proposed scope is wider than traditional commercial fleet operations. It is expected to cover businesses and organisations that require people to drive or ride for work, including those using:
- Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
- Light goods vehicles (LGVs), including commercial vans.
- Company cars and business-use cars.
- Motorcycles and powered two-wheelers.
- Electric bicycles and pedal cycles.
This means the initiative could be relevant to organisations of different sizes and across a wide range of industries, including construction, logistics, delivery services, facilities management, utilities and professional services.
Importantly, work-related road safety is not limited to businesses operating large fleets. An organisation with only one company van or an employee using their own car for business journeys may also need to consider how those journeys are managed. Where employees use their privately owned vehicles for business travel, employers should also consider the risks associated with managing a grey fleet and ensure appropriate checks and procedures are in place.
Why Is The Government Introducing The Charter?
Driving is an essential part of many UK businesses, but it also exposes employees and other road users to risks that employers need to manage.
Work-related journeys can involve tight schedules, unfamiliar routes, extended driving hours, vehicle loading, changing weather conditions and pressure to reach customers or complete jobs on time.
The Government’s Road Safety Strategy, announced in January 2026, sets out an ambition to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035, with an additional target to achieve a 70% reduction in deaths and serious injuries among children under the age of 16.
The wider Road Safety Strategy also adopts the internationally recognised Safe System approach, which recognises that human error is inevitable but that deaths and serious injuries can be prevented. Rather than placing responsibility entirely on individual drivers, it considers how vehicle safety, road design, driver education and enforcement can work together to reduce the consequences of collisions. For businesses, this reinforces the importance of taking a broader approach to workplace road safety rather than relying solely on drivers to avoid mistakes.
The proposed Charter is intended to encourage employers to take a more consistent and proactive approach to managing these risks, rather than treating road safety as solely the responsibility of individual drivers.
It also recognises that businesses have an important role in influencing driving behaviour, maintaining suitable vehicles and creating working arrangements that do not encourage unnecessary risks.
For fleet operators, this could mean greater attention being given to how safety policies are implemented, monitored and reviewed throughout an organisation.
When Will The National Work-Related Road Safety Charter Be Introduced?
The Charter is still in development, so businesses should be careful not to assume that its final requirements have already been confirmed.
The Department for Transport has been working with road safety organisations and industry representatives to develop the initiative. In a parliamentary response published on 2 November 2026, the Government confirmed that development work was ongoing following initial stakeholder engagement, with further details expected in due course.
The Government has indicated that the Charter will initially be introduced through a two-year pilot, which will be monitored and evaluated.
The initial approach is intended to encourage voluntary participation and improve standards through industry engagement. However, the Government has also stated that regulatory measures could be considered if voluntary participation and the pilot do not achieve sufficient improvements in work-related road safety.
This is an important distinction for employers. The Charter should not currently be treated as a new compulsory certification or an additional legal requirement that businesses must immediately obtain. However, its development signals a clear direction towards greater accountability for organisations that require people to travel for work.
Businesses should monitor announcements from the Department for Transport as the pilot develops.
What Responsibilities Do Employers Already Have?
Although the proposed Charter is new, employers already have legal responsibilities when employees drive or ride as part of their work.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 establish important duties for employers to protect the health, safety and welfare of workers and manage risks arising from work activities.
These responsibilities extend to driving on public roads. Using a company vehicle does not remove the employer’s obligations, and the same general health and safety principles can apply when employees use their own vehicles for business journeys. Businesses should also understand the responsibilities placed on employees when operating a leased vehicle, including their obligations to report damage, defects and other issues.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) explains that employers must consider three key areas when managing driving for work:
- The journey: Whether routes, schedules, distances and working arrangements are safe and realistic.
- The driver: Whether the person is competent, fit to drive and appropriately trained.
- The vehicle: Whether the vehicle is suitable, roadworthy, properly maintained and appropriate for the work being undertaken.
This approach provides a useful starting point for organisations reviewing their existing procedures.
Employers should also remember that ordinary commuting between home and a worker’s usual place of work is generally treated differently from driving undertaken as part of work activities.
1. Carry Out Regular Fleet Risk Assessments
A suitable and sufficient risk assessment is central to managing work-related road safety.
Businesses should identify the hazards associated with their vehicles, drivers and journeys, assess who could be affected and introduce appropriate measures to reduce the risks.
For example, a business operating a fleet of delivery vans may need to consider:
- Long-distance journeys and extended driving periods.
- Tight delivery schedules and unrealistic deadlines.
- Frequent stops and driving in unfamiliar locations.
- Reversing and manoeuvring in busy residential streets.
- Loading and unloading equipment or materials.
- Driving in poor weather and reduced visibility.
- Driver fatigue, distraction and mobile phone use.
- Vehicle condition, tyre safety and maintenance requirements.
Risk assessments should reflect the actual activities undertaken by employees rather than relying on a generic document that is rarely reviewed.
They should also be updated when working practices change, new vehicles are introduced, routes are altered or incidents highlight additional risks.
For more detailed guidance, businesses can refer to CVC’s Fleet Risk Assessment Guide.
2. Check Driving Licences And Driver Competence
Employers should have a clear process for checking that employees are legally entitled to drive the vehicles required for their roles.
This is particularly important for businesses operating different types of commercial vehicles, where licence categories and restrictions can vary.
Regular driving licence checks can help employers identify:
- Expired or invalid driving entitlements.
- Relevant penalty points and driving convictions.
- Changes to licence categories or restrictions.
- Employees who may no longer be legally permitted to drive a particular vehicle.
- Potential risks that need further assessment or action.
Businesses should establish how frequently checks are completed and maintain appropriate records.
Licence verification should also form part of the recruitment and onboarding process, particularly where driving is an essential part of the employee’s job.
However, holding a valid driving licence does not automatically mean someone is competent to operate every vehicle or carry out every type of journey safely.
Employers should consider whether additional instruction, training or supervision is necessary for drivers undertaking specialist work, operating larger vehicles or using unfamiliar equipment.
CVC’s guide to Company Vehicle Licence Checks provides further information.
3. Provide Appropriate Driver Training
Driver training should not be limited to employees who have recently passed their driving test.
Even experienced motorists may benefit from additional instruction, particularly when their work involves commercial vehicles, frequent business journeys or challenging driving conditions.
Businesses should consider training that addresses the specific risks associated with their operations, including:
- Defensive driving techniques, including understanding speed limits and the rules that apply to different types of commercial vehicles.
- Hazard awareness and anticipation.
- Safe reversing and manoeuvring.
- Driving in poor weather conditions.
- Managing distractions, including the risks and legal consequences of using a mobile phone while driving.
- Fatigue awareness.
- Safe loading and vehicle checks.
- Eco-driving and fuel-efficient driving practices.
Training requirements will vary depending on the type of work being undertaken, the vehicles involved and the individual driver’s experience. Businesses should also address common driving risks such as speeding and distracted driving, making sure employees understand how these behaviours can increase the likelihood of an incident.
New employees should receive appropriate vehicle familiarisation and an explanation of the organisation’s driving policies before undertaking business journeys.
Refresher training may also be appropriate following an accident, repeated driving incidents or changes to an employee’s responsibilities.
4. Manage Driver Fatigue And Working Hours
Driver fatigue is an important work-related road safety risk, particularly for businesses where employees spend significant periods behind the wheel.
Long journeys, early starts, late finishes, demanding workloads and insufficient rest can all affect concentration and reaction times.
Employers should avoid creating working arrangements that encourage drivers to rush, skip breaks or continue driving when they are too tired to do so safely.
Practical measures include:
- Setting realistic journey schedules.
- Allowing sufficient time between appointments.
- Planning appropriate rest breaks.
- Avoiding excessive driving workloads.
- Encouraging employees to report fatigue.
- Reviewing working patterns where repeated long journeys are necessary.
Businesses should also recognise that fatigue is not always caused by driving alone. Physically demanding work, long shifts and pressure to complete jobs can all contribute.
Drivers should understand that they must not continue driving when they are unfit to do so, and managers should make it clear that reporting fatigue will be taken seriously.
5. Introduce Clear Company Vehicle Policies
A written company vehicle policy can help establish consistent expectations for employees who drive as part of their jobs.
It should explain the organisation’s approach to vehicle use, driver responsibilities, safety procedures and the reporting of problems.
Depending on the business, a policy may cover:
- Who is authorised to drive company vehicles.
- Driving licence and insurance requirements.
- Personal use of company vehicles.
- Mobile phone and distraction rules.
- Alcohol and drug policies, including procedures for managing the risks of drink and drug driving among employees.
- Vehicle inspections and defect reporting.
- Accident and breakdown procedures, including clear arrangements for responding to serious road incidents and supporting affected drivers.
- Safe loading and securing equipment.
- Reporting penalty points and driving convictions.
- The use of privately owned vehicles for business journeys.
The policy should be communicated clearly to employees and reviewed regularly to ensure it reflects current legislation and working practices.
Managers should also understand their responsibilities for enforcing the policy. A document that employees sign but nobody monitors is unlikely to deliver meaningful improvements.
CVC’s Company Vehicle Policy UK Business Guide explores the subject in more detail.
6. Keep Vehicles Safe And Properly Maintained
Vehicle condition is another important part of work-related road safety.
Businesses should ensure that vehicles used for work are suitable for their intended purpose, roadworthy and maintained in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and relevant legal requirements.
This is particularly important for commercial vans that may cover high annual mileages, carry heavy loads or operate in demanding conditions.
Regular checks should include:
- Tyre condition, tread depth and pressures.
- Brakes and braking performance.
- Lights, indicators and visibility equipment.
- Windscreen condition and wipers.
- Mirrors and driver visibility.
- Warning lights and dashboard alerts.
- General vehicle condition and reported defects.
Employees should know how to complete appropriate daily or pre-use checks and how to report defects that could affect vehicle safety. Particular attention should be given to safety-critical components such as brakes and tyres, as failing to identify defects can create serious risks for drivers and other road users.
Businesses also need a clear procedure for dealing with unsafe vehicles. Where a defect makes a vehicle dangerous or unsuitable for use, it should not continue operating until the necessary checks and repairs have been completed.
Preventative maintenance can help organisations identify potential problems before they result in breakdowns, accidents or unnecessary disruption. A structured approach to fleet maintenance planning can also help businesses schedule inspections, manage servicing requirements and maintain oversight of vehicle condition.
CVC provides further guidance on Fleet Vehicle Servicing and Maintenance and Daily Van Checks and Business Legal Responsibilities.
7. Monitor Driving Behaviour And Investigate Incidents
Businesses should not assume that introducing a driving policy and providing initial training is enough to manage road risk.
Ongoing monitoring can help identify patterns that may indicate additional training or changes to working practices are needed.
Depending on the organisation and its vehicles, this may involve:
- Reviewing accident and incident reports.
- Monitoring repeated vehicle damage.
- Investigating speeding and other driving offences.
- Reviewing driver feedback and concerns.
- Analysing vehicle telematics information.
- Identifying recurring maintenance or defect issues.
- Monitoring whether safety policies are being followed.
Vehicle telematics and fleet tracking systems can provide useful information about vehicle use, journey patterns and certain driving behaviours.
However, monitoring should be proportionate, transparent and handled appropriately, particularly where employee location and driving data is collected.
When incidents occur, businesses should investigate the circumstances, identify any underlying causes and consider whether changes to training, policies, vehicles or working arrangements are necessary. Having a documented accident procedure can help ensure employees know how to report an incident, what information to collect and who to contact following a collision involving a company vehicle.
A consistent approach can help organisations learn from incidents rather than simply treating each one as an isolated event.
8. Consider Driver Health And Wellbeing
Work-related road safety also involves looking after the people behind the wheel.
Employees who drive regularly may face challenges associated with long periods of sitting, demanding schedules, stress and limited opportunities for breaks. Campaigns such as Driver Health Week also help highlight the importance of recognising and addressing the physical and mental health challenges faced by people who drive for work.
Businesses should consider whether working arrangements could negatively affect driver wellbeing and whether additional support is required.
This could include:
- Providing appropriate opportunities for rest breaks.
- Managing excessive workloads.
- Encouraging employees to report health concerns that could affect safe driving.
- Considering the effects of medication where it may impair driving.
- Providing suitable vehicles for the work being undertaken.
- Supporting employees following road traffic incidents.
Employers should also recognise that mental health and stress can affect concentration and decision-making. Fleet managers should consider how workplace pressures affect drivers and what practical support can be provided to help protect their mental wellbeing.
Creating an environment where drivers feel comfortable raising concerns can help identify potential problems before they contribute to an incident.
How Could The Charter Affect Fleet Operators?
Although the final requirements have not yet been published, the proposed Charter could have implications beyond the businesses directly participating in its pilot.
Larger organisations may increasingly expect suppliers, contractors and other partners to demonstrate that they manage work-related road risks appropriately.
For example, a company appointing a delivery contractor may want evidence of driver training, vehicle inspections, accident reporting procedures and documented safety policies before awarding work.
This could make road safety standards an increasingly important consideration when businesses select suppliers and manage commercial relationships.
For fleet managers, the Charter may also provide an opportunity to strengthen the case for investment in driver training, safer vehicles, fleet technology and more effective risk management.
Businesses that already have established safety procedures may find it easier to demonstrate their approach, while those with less formal arrangements may need to review how responsibilities are managed.
What Should UK Businesses Do Now?
With the Charter still being developed, businesses do not need to wait for its final publication before taking practical steps.
Reviewing existing procedures now can help identify weaknesses and establish a stronger foundation for future requirements. A wider fleet audit can also help identify gaps in vehicle records, maintenance arrangements, driver procedures and overall fleet administration.
A useful starting point is to work through the following areas:
1. Review existing risk assessments
Check whether current assessments adequately cover business journeys, driver behaviour, vehicle condition and the specific risks associated with your operations.
2. Check driver records
Make sure driving licences are valid, appropriate checks are being completed, and relevant training records are maintained.
3. Review company vehicle policies
Confirm that employees understand their responsibilities and that managers have clear procedures for dealing with non-compliance.
4. Assess vehicle maintenance arrangements
Check that inspections, servicing, defect reporting and repairs are being completed appropriately.
5. Review accident reporting procedures
Ensure drivers know what to do following an accident, who to contact and how incidents will be recorded and investigated.
6. Consider fleet technology
Assess whether telematics or other fleet management systems could help improve visibility of vehicle use, identify risks and support better operational decisions.
7. Keep up with Government announcements
Monitor updates from the Department for Transport and relevant industry organisations as the Charter’s development progresses.
Taking these steps can help businesses strengthen their existing arrangements without assuming that proposed Charter requirements have already become compulsory.
The Role Of Fleet Management In Improving Road Safety
Managing work-related road risk requires more than simply providing employees with vehicles.
Businesses need to consider how vehicles are selected, maintained, monitored and replaced, alongside the policies and procedures governing their use.
This includes considering the full fleet lifecycle, from selecting vehicles that are suitable for the work involved through to maintenance planning and deciding when replacements are necessary.
For organisations operating multiple vehicles, coordinating these responsibilities can become increasingly complex.
A structured fleet management approach can help businesses maintain oversight of vehicle maintenance, driver responsibilities, operational costs and replacement planning.
Fleet management systems can also provide access to information that helps identify potential issues, from repeated vehicle defects to inefficient journey patterns.
For businesses reviewing their wider fleet arrangements, CVC provides Fleet Management Solutions designed to support organisations with their commercial vehicle requirements.
Having the right vehicles, suitable specifications, and appropriate maintenance arrangements can all contribute to a more effective fleet operation.
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