Safety pictograms: It’s a stick-up to boost your brand and driver safety

SMEs worried about the road safety of their company drivers are being offered a cheap way to help reduce accidents and boost their brand’s social conscious standing with customers – safety pictograms.

The series of rear-door stickers have been created to get motorists thinking about safe driving habits while behind company van and truck drivers.

Homebase, part of Home Retail Group, has become one of the first businesses to sign up to ‘Project Pictogram’, a national road safety initiative aimed at raising awareness about the four main causes of road traffic collisions and fatalities.

The simple safety ‘Pictograms’ are designed to look like road signs and will now be displayed on the Homebase fleet.

Stickers encourage drivers to be aware of their speed, distractions – including phones and drinking coffee at the wheel – alcohol or drug impairment and wearing a seat belt.

‘Pictogram’ sticker-sets cost just £2.75 to produce and last the lifetime of the vehicle, providing invaluable daily reminders of these easy to change but potentially lifesaving driver habits.

Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service, who are also supporting the initiative with stickers across their fleet, are  hosting the ‘Project Pictogram’ web-page where full guidelines and artwork files can be downloaded free of charge.

Dave Clements of Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service explained: “The Primary Authority scheme aims to provide businesses with cost effective risk-reduction solutions. ‘Project Pictogram’ is clearly designed to deliver business profit protection on the roads, as well as the clear human cost benefits for a brand’s customers.”

The service is encouraging other business, local authorities, driving schools, colleges, sports clubs and community groups to also sign up to the scheme.

Home Retail Group’s health & safety manager Andy Leigh said: “This is a great low cost initiative that provides a simple reminder of road safety rules that help to keep traffic flowing.”

‘Project Pictogram’ is endorsed by the UK’s major road safety professionals; Road Safety GB, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), and is also a finalist in the Brake Fleet Road Safety Awards 2015 for Innovation.