Driver Health Week (1–6 September) and an inaugural Driver Health Day at Loughborough University will mobilise the transport sector around preventable illness, an ageing workforce and the operational case for keeping drivers fit and on the road.
A new national campaign, Driver Health Week, will take place from September 1 to 6 bringing together drivers, operators, academics and policymakers to tackle one of the transport sector’s growing challenges: driver health and wellbeing.
The campaign, which will include the inaugural Driver Health Day at Loughborough University on September 4, comes at a time when driver health is becoming an increasing concern across the transport industry. An ageing workforce, combined with the sedentary nature of driving, means that health and wellbeing must become a greater priority for employers and policymakers alike.
Vocational drivers are predominantly male and often face increased risks associated with long hours behind the wheel, poor diet and lack of physical activity. Preventable illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers are often diagnosed too late.
Backed by the RHA, Driving Better Health, National Highways, Loughborough University and the Society of Occupational Medicine, Driver Health Week will feature a range of activities designed to engage directly with drivers and transport operators across the country, including:
• A national roadshow visiting truck stops and driver facilities
• Educational resources for drivers and employers
• Promotion of health screening and support services
Stacy Clemes, professor of active living and public health at Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, has led a 13-year programme of research focusing on improving the health and well-being of high-risk occupational groups – particularly commercial vehicle drivers.
One outcome has been the Structured Health Intervention For Transport (SHIFT) – a multicomponent programme for HGV drivers designed to promote physical activity and positive lifestyle changes that has been translated into a one-day driver health Driver CPC module.
With an ageing driver population enabling experienced drivers to keep driving for longer means less need to recruit and train new people, and a healthy alert driver is much safer on the road than a sleep-deprived, insulin-dependent one.
“All the operators we’ve spoken to are very keen on promoting driver health,” says Clemes. “Because I think now everyone’s realising that it’s a big issue and we need to do something about it.”
