Metropolitan Police’s CVU consists of six teams across the Greater London area, providing specialist response to commercial vehicle-related incidents. The CVU Toolbox Talks were designed to improve trust and confidence between police and commercial drivers, with the aim of reducing death and serious injury involving commercial vehicles.
The Toolbox Talks cover awareness of vulnerable road users and dangerous driving behaviours including phone use. The talks also cover topics around mental wellbeing, recognising that driving a commercial vehicle can be lonely. The Metropolitan Police signposts to support services to help drivers, giving them the confidence to speak out about mental health.
Since launching the Toolbox Talk presentations in 2023, they have been delivered to more than 55,000 drivers in the UK. Metropolitan Police has also reported a reduction in fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles. In 2019, there were 34 fatal incidents. This has reduced by 64% following the introduction of the CVU’s Toolbox Talk presentations.
Inspector Richard Wenham, Metropolitan Police Commercial Vehicle Unit said: “I am proud this award and of the achievement in road death reduction, however one is still a death too many. Acknowledging the professional road user community and enhancing drivers’ knowledge around relevant legislation and vulnerable road users, and providing them support is a step towards humanising the professional driver and enhancing their knowledge and understanding of road risk. This reduction has been constant for three years now, and I am passionate about keeping that figure in decline.”
The Road Safety in the Community Award, sponsored by Samsara, was presented to the Metropolitan Police Service at the UK Fleet Champions Awards 2024. The award celebrates the organisation that has worked hardest with its local community to achieve safe and healthy mobility, for example, by funding road infrastructure improvements such as segregated footpaths and cycle paths, or a crossing near a school.
Click here to find out more about the UK Fleet Champions Awards and the 2024 winners.