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Latest News Posted: 29 January 2025

Improving the Health of Commercial Drivers: Making Roads Safer

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects the heart and blood vessels. It can restrict blood flow which can cause heart attacks, strokes and circulatory problems.

Cardio Vascular Disease is the leading global cause of death, which we can not afford to ignore. In the UK it accounts for 175,000 deaths annually.

Let’s Start with Some Facts and Figures

  • CVC is estimated to cause 25% of premature deaths under the age of 75
  • It’s twice as common in men than women
  • There’s over 100,000 hospital admissions for heart attacks every year.

However, the problem is even worse for vocational drivers, as research identifies that the risk of CVD in drivers is DOUBLE than that of the general population.

Drivers with an increased risk of CVD are also correlated with:

  • Increased accidents
  • Increased fatalities
  • Excessive healthcare costs

So there really is no argument against sorting this problem out. Even though the NHS has a long-term plan, the situation for drivers is much more dire that more needs to be done sooner.

Whilst this subject was debated in parliament last year, no consideration was evidently given to vocational drivers, despite – having double the risk of others and UK PLC being entirely dependent on this workforce to keep Britain moving. These workers need to be treated as a priority.

The Cost to the Economy

Even twenty years ago the cost to the economy was identified as being £29.1BN annually. This consisted of:

  • 60% healthcare costs
  • 23% to productivity losses
  • 17% to informal care.

More often than not, when planning anything from large infrastructure projects to local deliveries – there is a failure to factor in that the intrinsic health of the workforce is substantially undermining: both its productivity and resilience.

It is impossible to overlook that the most commonly prescribed drug is Atorvastatin – 59M individual prescriptions are given out annually and, the highest cost of any drug prescribed was for Apixaban – which is used to treat atrial fibrillation at a spend of £430M in just one year.

Prevention is Better than Cure – Improving Workforce Productivity and Resilience

The modest cost to the transport, logistic and supply chain industries of introducing and insisting upon preventive healthcare will enable them to stand a much better chance of meeting their productivity and growth aspirations. Making this intervention one with great ROI. And a productivity improvement of 20% is within reach when using health interventions in the workplace.

Treat all workers as if they are at risk of CVD – that’s what the data on vocational drivers tells us. We also know that drivers with related conditions such as obesity are an increased collision risk so, tackling driver health can very much pay dividends by reducing direct and indirect insurance losses.

It only takes a quick glance to realise that the DVLA group 2 requirements actually put drivers at risk. The fail point for blood pressure is 180/100 however, even a quick glance of NICE guidelines will tell you that a blood pressure over the much lower figure of 140/90 is cause for concern…. Drivers, many of whom can not easily access healthcare because of the demands of their work, are being permitted to work into ill health by a lack of adequate regulatory framework to prevent this.

The industry, operators and individuals must lower the traditionally (very) high thresholds for seeking medical review. Accept the statistics, stop denying there isn’t a problem and accept that if the industry takes a more responsible approach, the workforce will be protected from avoidable health conditions, such as: CVD.

What Can Operators Do to Manage Risk?

Operators should look at the whole picture when considering risk. You can have a new DAF with a 44-year-old driver who has not had any medical assessment (even an eye test!) for over twenty years. Be realistic – the operating risk is the driver not the vehicle.

The reality of more frequent medical assessments is essential to manage risk. Even drivers with undiagnosed conditions represent an enhanced risk – testing is not expensive and treatment is provided by the NHS.

Regular blood pressure checks come at a low price and can flag serious issues, which develop silently but which can be catastrophic for the driver and other road users.

Lead by the research partnership of D4Drivers and Loughborough University we are entering a new era of risk management and road safety promotion which includes drivers in risk assessment and management.