UK Employment Law Set for Shake-Up: First Aid Training for Work-Related Drivers May Become Mandatory
A significant shift in UK employment law could be on the horizon—one that may affect millions of workers who drive as part of their jobs. The Driving Down Inequality campaign, led by Driver First Assist, is pushing for legal reforms that would make it mandatory for employers to provide first aid training to staff who drive for work. With road incidents involving work-related drivers accounting for nearly one-third of UK road fatalities, campaigners say the move is long overdue.
As the Labour Party government considers sweeping changes to workplace safety regulations, employers across sectors—ranging from logistics and delivery to care services, construction, and sales—may soon find themselves legally required to train drivers in life-saving skills. Failing to do so, if the proposals are adopted, could result in prosecution.
The Hidden Danger in Work-Related Driving
At first glance, a company car, courier van, or delivery lorry may not seem as perilous as a factory floor or scaffolding site. But statistics tell a different story. According to campaigners, around one in three road deaths in the UK involve someone driving for work—a sobering fact that underscores how overlooked road safety remains in occupational health and safety policies.
David Higginbottom, CEO of Driver First Assist, minced no words:
“Employers have a legal and moral duty to protect their people, wherever they work. If you wouldn't leave a warehouse or office team without first aid support, why is it considered acceptable for drivers?”
His sentiment captures a fundamental inconsistency in current UK employment law: employees in traditional workplaces are covered by comprehensive safety training requirements, yet mobile workers—often in isolated, high-risk environments—remain underprotected.
Legal Gaps and Campaign Goals
The Driving Down Inequality campaign seeks to close this safety gap through legislative change. Specifically, they want first aid training for drivers to be a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act or a new regulation tailored to occupational driving.
The campaign has gained traction not just among road safety advocates but within the legal and transport communities as well.
Beverley Bell CBE, former Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain, supports the initiative:
“Companies have a duty to train their employees and ensure they are competent and safe to carry out their role. If you employ drivers, the same applies.”
This reflects a broader understanding that driving is a work activity—and should be treated with the same level of diligence as any other workplace function.
The Labour Government’s Opportunity—and Responsibility
With a new Labour administration in power, campaigners sense a window of opportunity. The party has pledged to prioritise worker welfare and reduce inequality—a platform that aligns closely with the goals of this campaign.
Alison Moriarty, Managing Director and Head of Compliance at Beverley Bell Consulting and Training, said:
“Work-related road safety is still not given the same gravitas as on-site safety. Given that driving is the highest-risk activity most people do in their job roles, this baffles me.”
She adds,
“Driving is a work activity. Not ensuring your drivers are safe and legal exposes you to the same potential prosecutions as any other health and safety breach.”
Should Labour choose to act, it would likely do so by amending workplace safety legislation to explicitly cover those who drive on the job—whether they’re on a full-time driving contract or simply using their personal vehicle occasionally for work duties.
What Employers Need to Know
If new legislation is passed, employers could be subject to new legal obligations similar to those already in place for first aid provision in fixed workplaces. Here’s how it might play out:
Mandatory First Aid Training for Mobile Workers
Companies would need to offer certified first aid training to any staff member whose job involves regular driving. This could include delivery drivers, transport operators, utility engineers, field sales reps, and even community healthcare providers.
Ongoing Refresher Courses
Just as with workplace-based first aiders, drivers may be required to undertake refresher training every few years to maintain competence.
Legal Liability for Non-Compliance
Employers who fail to meet the requirements could face Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigations, fines, or even criminal prosecution—especially if an untrained driver is involved in a serious incident.
Duty of Care Beyond the Office
The employer's "duty of care" would be extended beyond the physical premises of the business to include any environment in which employees carry out job-related tasks—including roads and highways.
Industry Response: Support Growing
The proposal has drawn widespread attention and, perhaps surprisingly, strong support from industry bodies and safety experts.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA), British Safety Council, and several insurance providers have expressed interest in the campaign, citing potential long-term benefits such as:
- Faster medical response in emergencies
- Reduced fatalities and serious injuries
- Lower insurance premiums for companies
- Better employee morale and retention
The move is also seen as a way to modernise health and safety regulations in line with post-pandemic realities, where the “workplace” is increasingly decentralised.
Real Lives at Stake
The rationale behind the campaign is tragically clear: too many lives are lost on the road each year—and many could be saved with basic first aid knowledge.
Imagine a scenario: a delivery driver witnesses a head-on collision on a rural road. Emergency services are 15 minutes away. With first aid training, that driver could prevent a fatal bleed or keep an unconscious victim breathing until help arrives.
Currently, the chances of that driver having the training and confidence to intervene are slim—unless they were trained outside of work, or work for one of the few proactive companies offering such training voluntarily.
A Model Already Exists
Driver First Assist has already run successful pilot programs with NHS Ambulance Services and major logistics companies. These initiatives show that first aid training for drivers is feasible, cost-effective, and positively received by participants.
David Higginbottom points out that the infrastructure for rolling out such training nationally is already in place. What’s missing is a legal push to make it standard practice.
“We have the trainers. We have the curriculum. What we need now is commitment from lawmakers—and responsibility from employers.”
Costs vs. Consequences
Some business groups may raise concerns about the cost of mandatory training. But safety advocates argue that the price of inaction is far greater—measured in human lives, litigation, and reputational risk.
A basic one-day first aid course typically costs between £80–£150 per person, depending on location and group size. Compared to potential fines running into thousands—or the unquantifiable cost of a preventable fatality—this is a modest investment.
Furthermore, businesses could see ROI in:
- Decreased downtime after incidents
- Enhanced compliance profiles
- Improved employee confidence and loyalty
What’s Next?
The Driving Down Inequality campaign is actively lobbying Parliament, with several MPs from both major parties expressing tentative support. A parliamentary debate on road safety and occupational driving is expected later this summer.
Should the Labour government choose to back the proposal, a new bill could be introduced before the end of the year. Consultations would likely follow, with implementation phased in over 12–18 months to allow businesses time to adapt.
Final Thoughts
If enacted, the proposed law would represent one of the most significant workplace safety reforms in recent years. It would align the UK with best practices globally and send a strong message that a company’s duty of care doesn’t stop at the office door—it follows the employee onto the road.
With millions of UK workers behind the wheel every day, the case for mandatory first aid training is not just compelling—it’s a moral imperative.
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