Everything businesses need to know about Vulnerable Road Users

What changes to the highway code involve vulnerable road users?

The new changes urge drivers to pay particular attention to vulnerable road users by giving extra distance and prioritising their safety if they’re sharing the road. Pedestrians sit at the top of the hierarchy, followed by cyclists, horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. But everyone on the road must take into account their own safety, and the safety of other road users.

As per the update, if pedestrians are crossing or waiting at a junction, drivers should give way and allow them to cross. When overtaking, vehicle users must now give more space to vulnerable road users. If overtaking a cyclist at 30 mph, leave at least 1.5 metres. If overtaking riders or horse-drawn vehicles you should leave at least two metres. Also allow 2 metres of space between any pedestrian. And drivers must give priority on roundabout to vulnerable road users.

All road users should know and implement these changes. The are design to make the road safer for everyone. Yet, even with these changes, businesses need to be aware of the dangers to vulnerable road users.

What can a business do to protect vulnerable road users?

Businesses should follow this list of tips and reminders to help reduce the likelihood of being associated with a dangerous road incident. These tips apply to both your drivers and your employees who are vulnerable road users.

• Perform a risk assessment. Businesses need to assess all the variables and weigh up the risk which can include the driver’s driving history, health, driving regulations, and compliance with safety regulations.

• Try to minimise your risk by avoiding routes where there are areas of high incidents that could occur, such as schools and residential areas.

• Ensure the correct vehicle for the job is selected. Take into account the vehicle’s size and safety technology it has available.

• Consider visibility when selecting vehicles for a fleet, pay attention to their mirrors and 360 degree view. Most incidents happen on the nearside of vehicles, focus on vehicles with reduced blind-spots and good nearside visibility.

• Ensure your employee has adequate training for the vehicle selected and also are legal compliant to drive the vehicle.

• Ensure the vehicle has external cameras that work at all speeds, including under 20mph. This is critical for recording your driver’s driving to aid coaching as well as evidence for any incidents that may happen. Most vehicles have a parking camera, ensure your driver knows how to properly operate it.

• Many businesses now employ telematics, such as a black box, which can be used to record speed and help coach drivers on safer driving techniques.

• Ensure the vehicle has internal cameras installed. This can identify fatigue, mobile phone use, and distractions. If identified, alert the driver to refocus or take a break.

• Provide your drivers with instructions and training on how to share the space on the road with others. Communicate and engage with drivers to raise potential risks. Help them understand what the most vulnerable road users are and why.

• Ensure drivers understand rules around cycle lanes and shared pedestrian spaces.

• The highest risk exists when conducting slow speed manoeuvres. So, drivers need to be proficient at checking blind spots, and making sure it’s safe to begin taking manoeuvres.

• Your vulnerable road users who perhaps cycle to work, ensure they are safe with high-visibility jackets and helmets as per the Highway code.

• E-Scooters are becoming much more popular. Make drivers aware of the dangers and how visibility of them can be limited. Both drivers and your e-scooter users need to provide plenty of space.

If an incident does occur, this can be a good opportunity for a learning video. Where an incident has been avoided, develop an in-house training videos to raise the profile as to what is happening out on the road. Reflect on reaction time of drivers, looking at how people respond to traffic and why inattention is dangerous, caused by fatigue, anxiety, or poor work organisation. It’s important to investigate an incident and to look at all factors that led to the incident. This should provide insight into what lead to the driver not been able to cope with that driving environment.

How is commercial insurance affected by the vulnerable road user claims trend?

For underwriting a motor policy, insurers must obtain detailed and accurate information. Weighing up the risks is critical, in order to understand how to stop incidents from happening. Pricing of commercial motor policies hasn’t really changed in principle, but because of the increased volatility and the increased potential for larger losses, prices could go up. However the more information provided, and the more support given to drivers, the more accurate the valuation that can be provided.

If there has been an incident with a vulnerable road user, brokers need as much information as possible. Ways to obtain this information are therefore crucial, helping to provide evidence for what happened and whether the driver has been adequately supported. Information is important in order to make reasonable adjustments, ensuring the incident doesn’t happen again.

It’s particularly important with VRU claims that as much information as possible is provided as soon as possible.