Driving for better business works!

USUALLY closed and cold on a January morning Ballymoney Town hall was alive and bustling from first thing this Thursday morning with local business representatives up early for first an appetising breakfast followed by a thought provoking morning designed to make them think from a new perspective in respect of their employees, and specifically those who drive in the course of their employment.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Jan 2010, 09:55 BST
Updated 25th Jan 2010, 15:44 BST

Ballymoney and Coleraine Road Safety Committees had joined forces with support and assistance from their respective borough councils to organise a “Driving for Better Business” event.

Aimed at local businesses, organisations and other bodies who have employees driving in the course of their working day, and based on reports that one in three road traffic incidents involve these employees Sam Knox, Chairman of Ballymoney Road Safety Committee saw the ideal opportunity to address this problem.

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With initial financial backing from Ballymoney District Policing Partnership he conceived the idea of putting together a brief, direct, and most importantly relevant event to which local businesses and organisations would be attracted. Building on the idea, and attracting support from both Ballymoney and Coleraine Borough Councils, together with input from other Road Safety Committees this event came to fruition on Thursday Morning.

With over 100 delegates attracted from sixty two business and organisations situated in the North West of the province the early start was rewarded with an excellent breakfast to set everyone up for the morning’s business.

Chairman for the event, John Esler of Coleraine and District Road Safety Committee invited everyone to be seated and set the scene for the morning.

After a warm welcome from the Mayor of Ballymoney, Cllr. Frank Campbell, business commenced with the first speaker of the day, Barry Griffin, a Northern Ireland based Road Safety Consultant who outlined the problems local employers needed to face up to. The keynote speech of the morning then followed delivered by Tracy Young, Fleet and Safety manager of Arval who set out her organisation’s approach to managing the safety aspects relating to company drivers and employees who drive in the course of the working day.

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After a quick break, during which delegates were encouraged to browse around the exhibition stands present, the second half of the morning recommenced with a practical discourse from Rory Donnelly of Coleraine Borough Council followed by a hard hitting and thought provoking talk from Inspector John Millar of P.S.N.I Road Traffic Policing.

The formal part of the morning concluded with an overall view from ROSPA Manager Ita McErlean followed by a lively question and answer session in which all the speakers participated having to answer a number of well thought and challenging questions put forward from delegates on the floor.

Closing remarks were made by Bryan Edgar, Assistant Director of Borough Services, Ballymoney Borough Council.

If you want to learn more about the work of local road safety committees, or become a member please contact either [email protected] or [email protected]

Related topics:John Millar