Appendix B - Individual Driver Risk Assessment
Risk Factor / Risk weighting / Score / Individual ScoreAge / < 25
25-35
35-60
> 60 / 20
10
5
10
Time licence held / < 5 years
5-10 years
> 10 years / 20
10
5
Total annual mileage
(work and private) / < 5000
5000-20000
> 20000 / 10
5
20
Total time spent driving each day
(work and private) / < 1 hour
1-3 hours
> 3 hours / 5
10
20
Driving accidents in last 5 years
(regardless of fault) / 1
2
3 or more / 10
20
40
Driving convictions / endorsements in last 5 years / Fixed penalty
Single speeding offence
Multiple speeding offences
Careless driving
Dangerous driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs / 10
25
50
50
70
70
Total Score =
Risk Assessment / Total PointsLow Risk / = / 20 - 40
Medium Risk / = / 40 - 55
Higher Risk / = / 55 +
What to do with the score
The Individual Driver Risk Assessment is meant to act as a tool for managers of those who drive University vehicles or who have a requirement to drive in their contract of employment. It is not meant for those staff who drive their own vehicles on University business out of personal choice. The purpose of the IDRA is to provide a relative risk rating for individual drivers.
Drivers who are assessed as low risk require no further action. Higher risk ratings than this should initiate a conversation between the line manager and driver exploring the reasons why the rating was reached and whether any restrictions on driving on University business should be applied. It should be emphasised that being scored as either medium or high risk does not automatically mean that restrictions should be applied.
For those scored as medium risk the ensuing conversation may be brief as in most circumstance no action will be required. An example of a medium risk driver where action might be taken is a staff member aged 26 who has less than 5 years of driving experience who drives between five and twenty thousand miles a year and for more than 3 hours a day. In such a case the line manager will want to ascertain exactly how long has the licence been held and why the individual is driving for more than 3 hours a day. The individual may have held their licence for nearly five years, have a short commute, but drive back and forth from the Medway campus on a regular basis. In which case no action would be necessary. However, they may have only recently passed their test and have a long or stressful commute stuck in traffic. In such a case a review of this individual’s work driving patterns should consider the distance and time spent driving for work and whether this should be reduced by, for example, restricting them to local on-campus driving. It could well be that given evidence of a clean driving licence and knowledge of the individual’s general demeanour and attitude to risk no restrictions would apply.
For those whose score places them in the higher risk category this should trigger a more substantial dialogue between that driver and their line manager. It is quite possible to reach the higher risk category simply by being an older driver who has a substantial commute. As above this would trigger a review of the individual’s work driving patterns. Clearly though this category will include those who have been involved in accidents and / or have penalty points on their licence. In such cases managers should undertake a more detailed review. Was the incident a one-off that has not been repeated? Were there any extenuating circumstances or personal issues that may have contributed to the incident and are they now passed or resolved? In such cases it would be reasonable to take no additional action. Alternatively is there evidence of a pattern of poor driving habits. For example multiple speeding offences or an accident combined with a speeding offence. Were any penalty points or speeding fines picked up while using a University vehicle? This would be contrary to the University’s Reduction of Risk while Driving for Work performance standard and be evidence of a lack of regard for the University’s reputation. Under such circumstances it would be entirely reasonable to remove that individual from driving duties for a defined period of time.
It is important to note that each individual case will be different, there are many possible scenarios that produce medium and higher risk scores. The IDRA is designed, in conjunction with the ensuing dialogue between the driver and their line manager, to assist the manager in making an informed judgement as to whether any changes to driving duties are justified. In the most serious cases where the individual is to be withdrawn from driving duties, that decision should most likely be taken at a senior management level in consultation with the Insurance Office, Human Resources and the Safety, Health and Environment Unit where necessary.
Notes on the risk factors
Age. The risk weighting and score reflect the statistical likelihood that drivers within different age groups will be involved in some type of road traffic accident.
Time licence held. Again the risk weighting and score reflect the statistical likelihood that drivers with different levels of driving experience will be involved in a road traffic accident
Total annual mileage. The higher score for individuals with low annual mileages reflects that these people generally only undertake short local journeys and have less experience of driving on a variety of different road categories. It is higher for high annual mileage individuals as they likely spend more time behind the wheel to the way to and from work and are more likely to be fatigued when driving for work.
Total time spent driving each day. Again this relates to fatigue. The more time spent behind the wheel, the more tired an individual is likely to be and more prone to accidents.
Driving accidents. Multiple accidents can indicate poor driving habits or patterns of poor driving behaviour.
Convictions. These are an indication of poor driving behaviour.