RSS Infrastructure (RSSI), a subsidiary of Auctus Management Group, is proud to unveil its latest road safety initiative to reduce the number of accidents/incidents that occur whilst driving. The company has been actively supporting Network Rail with their mandate to ensure that ‘Everyone [returns] Home Safe every day’ by deploying various measures to increase safety within the sector.
RSSI and Network Rail have identified an industry-wide issue relating to passenger and driver team members not using their seatbelts when in a moving vehicle. Network Rail created a specific section on driving-related behaviour within their ‘Life Saving rules’. These rules are as follows: “Never use a hand-held or hands-free phone, or programme any other mobile device, while driving” and “Always obey the speed limit and wear a seat belt”.
The law requiring all drivers to wear their seatbelts was enacted 30 years ago, on 31 January 1983. The Act’s statutory implications helped reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents for everyone who uses the roads.
The company is supporting Network Rail to raise awareness of the importance of wearing a seat belt by unveiling its new seat belt covers. The covers are constructed from the same high-visibility material used for Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE). The rationale for this is firstly symbolic as it demonstrates to the person getting into the vehicle that the seat belt, as with the PPE clothing, is there to help protect and save lives. Furthermore, the reflective nature of the material acts as a reminder when in a low visibility environment that the seatbelts have been fitted and are available for use. The vivid colour and reflective material of the seatbelt covers also help to advertise their use to other colleagues and the wider public, hopefully increasing usage levels within the wider driving community and ultimately reducing injuries.
RSSI was also the first company in the UK rail sector to integrate the Driver Awareness Warning System (DAWS) into its fleet. Increasing industry concerns over the transportation of workers to the site sparked the move. The warning system is a dash-mounted device which focuses on the driver’s retina and measures their ‘blinking pattern’, sounding audible warnings if signs of drowsiness or inattention are detected. In conjunction with DAWS, the RSSI fleet of Mercedes Benz vehicles has a market-leading armoury of safety features, including electronic stability, brake assistance, parking sensors and flashing hazard warning lights, which react automatically under emergency braking.
All vehicles have been fitted with the latest telematics to monitor drivers’ speed, location, braking, fuel consumption, mileage and emissions, real-time traffic updates, out-of-hours/unauthorised vehicle use, and excessive driver hours alerts.
Hopefully, these initiatives will change the driving culture within the UK and ensure that the ideas and principles behind Network Rail’s “Everyone Home Safe Every Day” campaign are achieved.
