Road traffic accidents

[ch 11: pages 234-235]

Injuries and deaths resulting from road traffic accidents (RTAs) are also mostly excluded from RIDDOR reporting requirements, even though between a quarter and a third of RTAs are estimated to involve someone driving for work purposes.

The HSE explains that road traffic incidents arising from the movement of a vehicle on the road are only reportable where either the injured person was engaged in, or a person was injured as a result of:

• exposure to a substance being conveyed by a vehicle;

• vehicle loading and unloading activities but not picking up or dropping off passengers;

• construction, demolition, alteration, repair or maintenance activities on or alongside public roads; and

• an accident involving a train.

Unions have long campaigned for RIDDOR to require employers to report work-related deaths and injuries sustained on the roads.