When a Road Collision Becomes a Workplace Governance Issue
Last Friday’s Irish Times report of a serious collision involving a worker and a €1.9M High Court settlement, is a reminder of a wider risk that many organisations still treat as external. It is not.
The case heard allegations that the employer failed to carry out ongoing medical assessments despite earlier driving incidents.
Beyond the details of the case, it raises an important governance question for employers:
When our staff drive for work, who is monitoring the driver risk?
One in three
In Ireland, work-related driving is estimated to contribute to 29% of road fatalities. When an employee drives for work, that activity sits firmly within the employer’s duty of care. Incidents on the road are often viewed through a road safety lens. In reality, they’re frequently workplace governance failures.
Despite this, many organisations still rely on informal controls:
· Excel-based driver records
· Annual or ad hoc declarations
· Policy documents without active monitoring
These approaches create a gap between policy and practice. They also limit an organisation’s ability to evidence that risks are being actively managed. In the event of a serious collision, that gap becomes visible. More questions follow, such as:
· Were risks identified and reviewed?
· Were warning signs acted upon?
· Was driver fitness and compliance actively monitored?
Without structured systems, the answers are often unclear. That creates audit risk, legal exposure and reputational harm.
What this means for employers
Driving for work should be treated like any other safety-critical activity. It requires clear oversight, consistent data and documented actions. Good intent is not enough. Evidence is what matters.
Organisations that cannot demonstrate active management of driver risk may struggle to show that their duty of care has been met.
Three actions to take now
1. Move from declarations to verification
Ensure driver licence, vehicle and risk data are current, validated and centrally recorded.
2. Treat incidents as leading indicators
Capture and review all incidents. Use them to trigger follow-up actions and supervision.
3. Establish ongoing oversight
Introduce regular prompts, alerts and reporting to maintain continuous visibility of driver risk.
Driving for work is predictable, measurable and manageable. Cases like this remind organisations that driver governance protects people, reputation and finances.
Sources:
The Irish Times - https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/03/13/cash-in-transit-driver-who-suffered-brain-injury-in-crash-settles-case-for-19m/
European Transport Safety Council (9/12/2025) - https://etsc.eu/tapping-the-potential-for-reducing-work-related-road-deaths-and-injuries-pin-flash-49/
Services:
PERMIT - online driving licence and insurance verification
SURVEY - online driver risk assessment
DRIVEALERT - online defensive driver training
DRIVESAFE - ADI-led interactive webinar courses
ALLY - mobile and web app for business mileage
Contact us today and see how our services can help you stay compliant and build a better culture of care.