5 Tips for fleet managers to take to help prevent drink-driving

It estimates that 300 deaths occurred on the roads in Great Britain in 2022 where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit. This is the highest figure since 2009’s 380 deaths and a 16% increase on 2021’s figure.  

The DfT says that the figures are likely to have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the national restrictions implemented during periods of 2020 and 2021 which led to a reduction in traffic and collisions, but may also have affected driver behaviour.

Looking at the long-term trend, the percentage of road deaths that are drink-drive related has fallen from a high of 26% in 1979 to 18% in 2022. 

However, the percentage of road casualties (whether fatalities, serious or slight injuries) that were drink-drive related has increased over the past 10 years.

In 2022 alone, 6,800 people were killed or injured where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit. 

For businesses, the implications of one of their drivers being involved in a fatal collision while over the drink-drive limit are significant. This ranges from vehicle repair costs and downtime to reputational damage and potential corporate manslaughter charges. 

That’s why it’s essential to be able to show you have taken all action possible to prevent or mitigate such a collision. 

Tips for fleet managers can take to help prevent their staff from drink-driving

1.    Have the right policy in place

You should have a written alcohol misuse policy which employees must confirm they have read and understood. If you use agency and supply chain workers it’s a good idea to extend the policy to them. 

The policy needs to set out your expectations for driver behaviour and fitness to drive and the potential consequences of not adhering to the policy, which may range from being given feedback and the chance to improve behaviour to disciplinary action and dismissal. 

However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises that if an employee tells you they have an alcohol problem an effective policy should aim to help and support them rather than lead to dismissal. This could include encouraging them to speak to their GP or a specialist alcohol agency. They might need time off while they seek professional help and you should also transfer them to a non-driving role on a temporary basis. 

If you decide to screen and test for alcohol (see step four), this should be included in your policy and their employment contract. You should explain why and how screening will be done and the consequences of a positive test. 

It’s also important to regularly review your policy and make changes if necessary. 

2.    Train managers and drivers

The HSE advises that you should brief managers and supervisors so they know how to recognise the signs of alcohol misuse, understand the organisation's rules on alcohol misuse and what to do if they suspect an employee is misusing alcohol or what to do when an employee tells them about an alcohol problem.

Warning signs of alcohol misuse include: unexplained or frequent absences; a change in behaviour; unexplained dips in productivity; more accidents or near-misses; and performance or conduct issues. However, be aware that these could also indicate other things like stress or illness. 

If you have the budget, an online training course for drivers which shows the consequences of driving with alcohol in their system could also be beneficial or you could invite an external speaker such as an ex-police traffic officer to educate drivers. 

3.     Run dedicated campaigns

An obvious time to run a campaign warning drivers about the dangers of drink-driving and how long alcohol can stay in their system is in the run up to Christmas and New Year when people often attend more parties or social gatherings. However, it’s best to remind drivers at other times of the year too. 

You could use communication tools such as your company intranet and newsletter, putting up posters around your office or depot and sharing videos with drivers. 

You could even ask drivers to make a formal commitment to never drive after consuming alcohol or take risks the morning after. Road safety charity Brake, which Reflex has been a long-term supporter of, has created the Sober Pledge:

“I’ll never drive after any alcohol or drugs and won’t take any risks the morning after.

“I’ll plan ahead to make sure my friends and I can get home safely.

“I’ll never get a lift with drink or drug drivers, and I will speak out if someone’s about to drive on drink or drugs.”

4.    Screen and test for alcohol 

There are a number of instances when you might want to screen drivers for alcohol. This could include pre-employment, following an accident, when you have reasonable suspicion that an employee is misusing alcohol or a regular random check. 

The HSE says that employees must consent to screening for practical and legal reasons and they can’t be made to take a test. However, if they refuse when you have good grounds for testing, they may face disciplinary action or not be allowed to drive.

It adds that screening must be carried out properly to ensure samples cannot be contaminated or tampered with, and that testing procedures and analysis are accurate. 

If screening gives a positive result, perform a breathalyser test, ideally using a UK Home Office approved breathalyser. 

Remember that if you do decide to screen and test employees it should be done alongside educating drivers and be part of your overall health and safety policy to be effective. 

5.    Fit alcohol interlock devices 

You could consider fitting alcohol interlocks (also known as ignition interlocks) to your vehicles. Essentially this is a breathalyser which is wired into the vehicle’s ignition system, and requires the driver to take a breath test before the engine will start. 

Some truck manufacturers already offer alcohol interlocks as a factory-fitted option and all new cars sold in the European Union (EU) now have to have alcohol interlock installation interfaces, making it easier to have one fitted. This is part of the EU’s General Safety Regulation, which has made Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems mandatory. 

However, even alcohol interlocks aren’t guaranteed to prevent drink-driving as the driver could potentially get someone else to take the breathalyser test.