RPS Consultant NETS Award for Road Safety

RPS Consultant Martin Hoogenraad awarded for safety services to major client Royal Dutch Shell plc.

World Health Organisation figures show that 1.2 million people are fatally injured each year on roads globally, with non-fatal road traffic accident injury statistics worldwide exceeding 20 million annually. As traffic volumes increase the projected annual figure for road transport accident fatalities by 2030 is a possible 2.3 million unless serious focused action is taken to reduce the risks significantly. More than 90% of road traffic deaths and injuries occur in low and middle income countries and a number of large businesses operating globally are amongst those working together to promote initiatives to reduce these statistics through the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.

Around 3,500 businesses take part in NETS’ annual Drive Safely to Work Week – held in October – the latest campaign focused on the need to make employee road safety a part of an employer’s safety culture.

RPS Consultant Martin Hoogenraad from our Delft office has been seconded to Shell since 2009 where he works closely with Shell’s Global Road Safety Manager, and has informed Shell’s input to the NETS’ Comprehensive Guide to Road Safety.

The Guide was developed as part of NETS’ mission to assist employers in advancing global road safety through providing guidance on various stages of road safety program development.

By helping to develop the NETS Guide, Shell shares its road safety knowledge with other companies, thereby contributing to the WHO’s road safety goal to save millions of lives.

Martin was honoured with a road safety award at the annual NETS meeting recently held in Orlando, recognising his valuable contribution to the NETS Guide. “It was a surprise and a great honour for me to receive the award. I see it as an acknowledgement that more and more companies and organisations realize that road transport is one of the most dangerous activities for their employees and contractors and that appropriate controls need to be put in place to reduce the risks” says Martin.