Archived press release

Date Published: 02/06/06

AVDC’s refuse drivers have been recognised for their exemplary safe driving skills by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The council has 38 refuse drivers who are signed up to the RoSPA’s National Safe Driving ...

AVDC’s refuse drivers have been recognised for their exemplary safe driving skills by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

The council has 38 refuse drivers who are signed up to the RoSPA’s National Safe Driving Award’s’ Scheme (NSDA), which aims to encourage the promotion of a positive safety culture and change employees’ attitude towards driving.

Chairman of the Council, Councillor Sue Polhill, presented awards to refuse drivers who have driven for a year without an accident or speeding fine. Former refuse driver David Hewitt also received an award for driving safely for more than 30 years.

Mr Hewitt retired in March 2006 after 31 years with the council as a refuse driver. In all that time he has driven without an accident, traffic conviction or speeding fine. Mr Hewitt’s father worked for the council before him and his retirement means that for the first time in 57 years no member of the Hewitt family will be working for the council.

RoSPA, one of the world’s leading health and safety organisations, estimates that every year in the UK there are about 1,000 people killed, and many more seriously injured, in road accidents in which one or more of the vehicles involved are being driven for work purposes.

Chairman of the Council, Councillor Sue Polhill, said: “The council regards safety as a top priority and I am delighted to present these awards for safe driving. Our refuse vehicles and staff are the face of the council that members of the public see the most and our drivers and refuse staff are excellent ambassadors.”

David Hewitt said: “I’m thrilled to accept this award and feel very proud of my achievements. Being a refuse driver isn’t the easiest job in the world. They have to go down some of the narrowest country lanes and the vehicles get bigger and bigger. All the drivers should feel proud of achieving these awards.”

The NSDA scheme works by organisations sending in a list of all their drivers, whose driving records are then kept by the society. The organisation receives driving manuals and road safety publications.

Each year, if the drivers have had no blameworthy accidents or convictions, each individual driver will receive a certificate, with rewards for both individual drivers and organisations after certain lengths of accident-free driving.