TNT creates safer roads in the UAE with Improved 'Road Safety Management System'

The programme which aims to raise awareness and thereby lower the risk of traffic related accidents and fatalities is composed of two principle elements - the Road Safety Charter and the Implementation Plan. The latter, which includes the road safety risk assessment scheme works to identify the weakness of TNT drivers, thereby providing them with guidance on how they can become safer on the roads.

Through the Road Safety Risk Assessment scheme each individual TNT driver is accompanied by another member of staff for a day and is assessed on their driving skills through the completion of a questionnaire. The questionnaire once finished will lead to an action plan providing each driver with areas for improvement. Combined with the Emirates Driving School's Defensive Driving Course on which all TNT drivers in the UAE have been sent, there has been a clear decrease in the number of accidents amongst TNT drivers within the UAE, highlighting the success of the scheme.

The other critical components of the Implementation Plan introduced as part of the revised RSMS include Performance Management, Subcontractor Management, Compliance Register, Driver Selection and Recruitment and Road Safety Training. Together these initiatives cover everything TNT's drivers and vehicle management teams need to know to improve road safety.

Throughout the company there has been clear support for the RSMS apparent through the endorsement of the Road Safety Charter. At a divisional level it has been signed by Managing Director Marie-Christine Lombard as well as Vice President of the European Commission Jacques Barrot. Within the UAE, Country General Manager Bryan Moulds has voluntarily signed the document along with all drivers in the UAE. The charter serves to highlight the commitment of all employees to road safety at a local level, as well as the commitment of senior level staff to pursue road safety excellence. Where TNT outsources drivers, the safety charter has been made a part of the contract to encourage those working with TNT to reach their objective of reducing accidents on the road.

Country General Manager Bryan Mould's commented:

"Whilst road safety is important wherever you are in the world, anyone familiar with the UAE will be aware how important it is to improve road safety here. At TNT, all our drivers have voluntarily signed up to our Road Safety Charter showing that road safety is not merely a company policy implemented from above, but something in which our staff strongly believe in and are committed to achieving. Our commitment at TNT goes further than just raising awareness on the issue of road safety, and our initiatives that make up the implementation part of our Road Safety Management System highlight this. We have sent all our drivers on a road safety training course and are also carrying out safety assessments on each individual driver. We hope our efforts will continue to reduce road accidents and fatalities and that by setting an example through our TNT staff we will encourage safer driving across the UAE."