National Highways unveils free training for van drivers
National Highways has introduced free training for commercial vehicle drivers who may be first to arrive at the scene of an accident.
Nearly 2,000 people were killed or seriously injured on England’s motorways and major A roads in 2024, but evidence suggests about 50% more lives could be saved if first aid is delivered on the roadside while waiting for the emergency services.
The new online training, which takes less than an hour to complete, has been developed in collaboration with medical trauma specialists to help commercial drivers provide life-saving support in the critical moments following a collision. Its modules provide practical advice on how to stay safe, reduce risk and not make the situation worse.
With more than five million van drivers in the UK, National Highways believes this post-collision response training can have a positive impact on road safety.
Saving lives
Mark Cartwright, head of commercial vehicle incident prevention at National Highways, said: “Motorways and major A roads carry around two thirds of all freight traffic in England, so we potentially have millions of commercial drivers that are often among the first people at the scene following a collision.
“This training is not about pressuring anyone to do anything they’re uncomfortable with, it’s about being collaborative and realistic, and providing information that might help save lives.”
