A recent survey by Road Safety at Work found 51 per cent of employers said work-related driving is not dangerous.
As National Road Safety Week approaches, new research shows many B.C. employers overlook one of the most common and dangerous workplace hazards: driving on the job. According to Road Safety at Work, work-related driving is the leading cause of traumatic workplace deaths in the province.
“That gap between perception and reality puts workers at risk. Driving is one of the highest risk activities many workers do during their shift,” said Trace Acres, spokesperson for Road Safety at Work. “There’s a real opportunity here for employers to close that gap by adopting practices such as setting clear rules for driving, training employees, checking that drivers have the necessary skills, and ensuring vehicles are safe.”
According to WorkSafeBC statistics from 2020 to 2024, an average of 21 workers died in work-related vehicle crashes each year. Another 1,700 workers were injured and missed work annually because of work-related vehicle crashes.
“Reacting to conditions on a given day is important,” Acres added. “But supervisors and workers may end up making split-second decisions that should be guided by policies, training, and oversight.”
Road Safety at Work is sharing the research findings ahead of National Road Safety Week as a reminder that driving for work comes with clear responsibilities for employers.
