Arriva signs up to save lives

Leading transport services organisation, Arriva plc, hasdemonstrated its commitment to safety by becoming a signatory ofthe European Road Safety Charter. The European Commission launchedthe charter with the aim of achieving a 50 per cent reduction inroad accidents by 2010 – a saving of 20,000 lives. Arrivasigned the charter at a ceremony held at Dublin Castle last week.Other signatories include Esso and Scania.

David Martin, an executive director of Arriva plc responsiblefor the Group's International division, commented:

We work very hard across our businesses in Europe toimprove safety for our customers, our employees, and other roadusers. Arriva places safety at the heart of everything it does andwe are therefore delighted to become a signatory to thischarter.

The European Road Safety Charter asks organisations to make a'declaration of intent' showing a commitment to improving safetyand suggesting ways in which the organisation can support safetyinitiatives.

Arriva offers safety awareness training across its businessesand has introduced initiatives such as CCTV on buses, and customercare training which suggests ways to deal with potential conflictsituations.

Other examples of safety initiatives include a bus drivingsimulation programme in partnership with Cranfield University, andoperating buses with lights on during the daytime in a bid toimprove vehicle visibility to other road users.

In the UK, the road safety charity, Brake, recognised thecommitment made by the Group's UK Bus division to road safetyrecently. The company was shortlisted in six categories and wassuccessful in winning two categories and receiving highly commendedaccolades in two others.

For the average passenger trip in the EU, bus travel has a 10times lower fatality risk than car travel. Modal shift from privateto public transport is a valid strategy to achieve the targets setby the European Commission.

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