MET POLICE TARGET DERBYSHIRE LORRY SAFETY WITH AWARD-WINNING TALK

Local company Longcliffe has partnered with the Metropolitan Police to deliver an award-winning safety talk to over 100 Derbyshire-based HGV drivers and other transport professionals. The campaign, which launched in 2022, aims to support safe working practices and keep drivers updated on changes to road traffic laws. he event, hosted by Longcliffe at its Curzon Lodge Transport Depot near Matlock, involved drivers from many local companies including Ben Bennetts, Riva Transport, Hartshorne Motor Services, TJ Twigg Haulage and Walkers of Ashbourne. Longcliffe offered four sessions over two days with the invitation open to local companies who operate commercial vehicles.

It included a hard-hitting ‘Toolbox Talk’ from the Met Police which covered areas such as driver wellbeing and the support available; roadside checks; load security and myth busting around commercial vehicle enforcement. This project - the brainchild of the Met Police’s Inspector Richard Wenham - has
already involved over 55,000 drivers across the UK and is having a hugely positive effect.

Inspector Wenham explained more: “Although I am a Met Police officer and London’s roads are my home territory, this Toolbox Talk is already having an impact on national road death involving commercial vehicles. In London we have seen a reduction from 34 to 11 in the last two years and a national reduction of 12%.

“The project is about working with industry to promote the best working practices and help keep drivers and other road users safe. We were delighted when Longcliffe invited us to present the talk, not only to their own logistics team, but to drivers representing a wide range of other local companies who operate commercial vehicles in the area. By hosting an open event like this, they have enabled us to reach 100 more drivers with important messages and guidance.”