Coach and bus insurance broker McCarron Coates has created a board game to provide operators with what it describes as food for thought about the legal framework in which they work and a wakeup call for the risks that fleet drivers and their employers face.
Call Road Hierarchy, it builds on the broker’s efforts since early 2022 to communicate the implications of that hierarchy of road users approach, launched then in the Highway Code. The game also emphasises warnings that were realised in mid-2022 via the introduction of the offence of causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving.
The game takes players through those topics in what McCarron Coates says is “an engaging way” as they move around the board and have to pay a penalty, or earn a reward via landing on a scenario square.
Those scenarios can be detrimental if the player has exhibited poor driving behaviour or inadequate fleet management. They can be positive if aspects of good fleet management have been deployed.
The aim is to be the first player to reach the Star Operator yellow square with seven green award points in hand and having avoided going to HM Prison Hierarchy.
That ultimate penalty highlights how being found guilty of causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving does not result in a fine for those found guilty, but driving bans and a prison sentence of up to two years. Gameplay also underlines the relative ease of being caught by this law, where ‘serious’ can be interpreted as a broken bone.
The broker notes that the degree of punishment handed down by a judge can be directly influenced by the Hierarchy of Road Users.
Under that approach, if a heavy vehicle is involved in an accident with a vulnerable road user – a pedestrian, horse rider, cyclist or motorcyclist – the punishment is likely to be more severe under sentencing guidelines.
To play, participants need to print the board and use two small counters, The scenarios list and game card also need to be printed. McCarron Coates says that the game may be ideal to accompany toolbox talks, or as a lunchtime diversion.
Observes Director Paul Coates: “Whether you are running a coach, bus, HGV, minibus or van fleet, this game has total relevance to you and your livelihood and liberty.” He adds that there is “a lot of complacency around the new rules and laws” and that fleets “really need to think about what has been happening and respond fast.”
Continues fellow Director Ian McCarron: “We have addressed the risk to fleets in different ways, directly offering clients the advantage of having our RTC Crisis Line service, which provides instant, sector-specific legal representation, in person, should any driver be interviewed under police caution.
“Now we are communicating the risk in a completely different way while continuing to stress just how essential it is to have the right legal advice should any driving incident involve the police.”
The board game will be supplied free to McCarron Coates clients or can be downloaded along with instructions, scenario sheets and score cards.
