Across the UK, millions of people drive for work – yet remain excluded from basic first aid provision. Despite being statistically among the most at-risk employees, business drivers (including grey fleet users, van drivers, and fleet car users) are often overlooked in workplace health and safety strategies. This results in a profound and unacceptable inequality.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requires employers to assess the health and safety risks faced by their workers, including those on the road. However, many employers exclude drivers from first aid training because they are not present on-site. This creates a dangerous gap: drivers – often isolated, mobile, and exposed – are left without life-saving skills that their office-based colleagues routinely receive.
This oversight contributes to poor outcomes following road traffic collisions (RTCs), especially in rural areas where emergency response times are longer. The early minutes after a crash are critical. Trained bystanders can make the difference between life and death, but without training, those first on scene are unprepared.
Driver First Assist (DFA) addresses this gap by offering the Skills for Safer Journeys course – an online, compliance-focused program designed to meet employer obligations while empowering drivers with emergency response skills. Supported by emergency services and backed by a learning management system, it enables businesses to fulfil their legal duties while creating a safer workforce and society.
This is not just about compliance – it’s about justice, safety, and leadership. No driver should be left behind.
For more information, visit: https://www.driverfirstassist.org.
