Rail Safety and Standards News

14 Mar 2025

RSSB relaunches Occupational Road Risk Management Charter

The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is proud to announce the relaunch of the Occupational Road Risk Management Charter, aimed at reducing road risk and enhancing the safety of employees, contractors, and the public. It sets out a series of commitments to manage and mitigate the likelihood of being killed or injured while driving, or being driven, for work purposes.

The relaunched Charter is an opportunity for rail organisations to renew their commitment to occupational road risk. It provides a common framework for rail sector leaders to work together, aligning with the Rail Health and Safety Strategy and Occupational Road Risk Management collaboration arrangements.

The Charter also supports commitment to the National Highways’ Driving for Better Business programme. Backed by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), this supports employers in reducing road risk through good practice management of staff who drive as part of their job. The programme offers useful online tools and resources to help employers evaluate practices, strengthen culture, enhance performance, and demonstrate leadership in the management of work-related road risk.

Endorsements

Johnny Schute, Chair of the Rail Health and Safety Strategy Executive Advisory Group and Chief Operating Officer of the Rail Safety and Standards Board, added:

“This Charter is a powerful and potent lever to bear down on the risks that driving incurs. RSSB firmly supports its adoption and stands ready to help the rail sector realise the benefits of Driving for Better Business.”

Jamie Hassall, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, stated:

“PACTS is a strategic partner of the DfBB [Driving for Better Business] programme and is pleased to support the Charter as it helps to promote wider improvements to the management of occupational road risk.”

Richard Hines, HM Chief Inspector of Railways at the Office of Rail and Road, stressed the importance of working together, saying:

“The ORR is pleased to support the Charter and the commitments it sets out. Strong collaboration across the industry and with our supply chain colleagues will be key to securing further, sustained, improvements in the management of occupational road risk.”

For more information and to download a copy of the Occupational Road Risk Management Charter, please visit our website at: The Occupational Road Risk Management Charter

Contact Information

Notes to editors

  • The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is the independent safety, standards, and research body for Great Britain’s rail network. We help to make an evolving railway safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.
  • We work collaboratively with an evolving rail industry to ensure that innovative and sustainable technology is operated safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. We codify and share best practice, both in Britain and abroad. We are proudly impartial. We are home to some of rail’s leading technical experts. Guided by facts and analysis, we help to bridge knowledge gaps and optimise use of the latest technology. We distribute and systemise industry best practice.

www.rssb.co.uk