Inclusion of Section 27 into the handbook
FORS – Vulnerable Road Users
ECS are committed to improving road safety and are actively involved in many initiatives around the UK to reduce traffic related incidents and improve the image of the company.
A key part of this is the reduction in incidents involving construction industry vehicles and vulnerable road users.
Who are Vulnerable Road Users?
Vulnerable Road User is a term applied to those most at risk in traffic:
Pedestrians
- More than 60 child pedestrians are killed or seriously injured every week, children often misjudge the speed and intentions of drivers and are easily distracted.
- Nearly half of all pedestrians killed are aged over 60
- Older people may have difficulties in seeing or hearing approaching traffic and may have decreased mobility.Cyclists
- Around 75% of fatal or serious cyclist accidents occur in urban areas
- Around half of cyclist fatalities occur on rural roads
- 75% happen at/near road junctions or roundabouts
- 80% occur in daylight – but night time incidents are more likely to be fatal.
- Almost one quarter of the cyclists killed or injured are children.
Cyclists and large goods vehicles (LGVs)
- LGVs (Large goods vehicles) present a particular danger for cyclists, especially in urban areas where around 20% of cyclist fatalities involve an LGV
- These often occur when an LGV is turning left at a junction
- About one quarter of incidents resulting in serious injury to a cyclist involves an LGV, bus or coach passing too close to the rider.
Motor cyclists
- Motorcyclists represent 1% of traffic yet account for up to 20% of the deaths and serious injuries on our roads
- Motorcyclists are 40 times more likely to be killed than car drivers
- Recent European research reveals that nearly 70% of motorcycle accidents involved a car, lorry or bus and that approximately 55% of accidents occur at junctions
- It is unlikely that in all these cases the motorist failed to look but rather failed to see the motorcyclist.
Eligibility to Drive
Eyesight Checks
You MUST be able to read a vehicle number plate, in good daylight, from a distance of 20 metres (or 20.5 metres where the old style number plate is used).
If you need to wear glasses (or contact lenses) to do this, you MUST wear them at all times while driving.
The police have the power to require a driver to undertake an eyesight test.
It is recommended that you get your eyesight checked at least annually (6 monthly if a member of FORs or equivalent scheme) to ensure capability to drive legally.
FORS standards require all ECS drivers to pass eye sight checks at 25m.
ECS Drivers eLearning requirements
Bronze: for requirement D4 Professional development, please complete:
- 1 x Safety eLearning module within the past 12 months – there are a number of safety eLearning modules to choose from and these are listed below in the ‘Safety eLearning modules’ section; AND
- 1 x Security and Counter Terrorism eLearning module within the past 24 months
Click the Link to access FORS eLearning modules
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE eLEARNING
