Driving for Better Business – new fleet safety focus update

Let’s Talk About Speed 

When we talk about speed, the conversation often shifts to stopping distances. People tend to boast about their vehicle’s big brakes or their Formula One driver reflexes. But let’s take a step back and think about the laws of physics for a moment.

Imagine you’re up in a helicopter, looking down at a stretch of motorway. You see two vehicles: one vehicle in lane one travelling at 70 miles per hour, and another in lane two travelling at 100 miles per hour (mph).

Suddenly, a massive hole appears in front of them; doesn’t matter how far ahead it is – everything in this scenario is the same, other than the initial vehicle speeds. Both drivers hit the brakes at the same time. The vehicle going at 70 mph manages to stop just before the edge, but the one travelling at 100 mph plummets over into the hole.

Here’s the question: how fast was the second vehicle going when it went over the edge?

Watch the video to find out here.

Most people don’t get anywhere near the right answer – or why it matters.

Driving for Better Business in collaboration with the National Highways Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention Team are providing free to access resources to help those who manage and employ drivers. Their Fleet Safety Focus Updates cover an important area every month. This month’s update focuses on Speed.

It includes a link to a file of useful resources for you to download and share with your drivers, including:

• An article to share with your drivers on speed
• Short safety messages on speed to send to your drivers on their devices
• A ‘Know Your Limits’ poster for your staff noticeboards
• Information sheets from our Van Driver Toolkit on Speed Limits.

Access this month’s Fleet Safety Focus and watch the video here.

 

AFI Membership Renewals

2025 AFI membership packs are now being dispatched – what’s inside the box this year?

Don’t forget our updated renewal requirements:

To ensure all members continue to meet the high standards outlined in our Code of Practice and Terms & Conditions, we are introducing new requirements for membership renewal. From 2025, all renewing members will need to provide:

• A copy of your up-to-date insurance documents (employer, public liability, and all-risk).
• Your latest financial accounts.
• A positive reference.

These updates will help maintain the credibility and reputation of AFI members while positioning you for future opportunities.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in implementing these changes, which are designed to strengthen the AFI and the value we provide to our members.

If you have any questions about the renewal process, or member benefits, please don’t hesitate to contact Pete or myself at victoria@theafi.co.uk or 0203 772 0617

 

National Apprenticeship Week – Get Involved!

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2025 will run from Monday 10 ‐ Sunday 16 February to showcase the benefits of apprenticeships. Taking place in the run up to Open Doors Week, NAW 2025 will have the theme ‘Skills for Life’ focusing on how apprenticeships can help employers develop a workforce with future‐ready skills, whilst setting up individuals for a rewarding career. Build UK is encouraging all members to get involved and there are a number of simple things you can do to highlight apprenticeships in construction:

• Celebrate your apprentices ‐ Put your apprentices front and centre of your business and on social media using the hashtag #NAW2025 and showcase the career journeys of employees who started as apprentices.
• Promote your apprenticeship vacancies ‐ List all your apprenticeship opportunities on Talentview Construction and make it easier for young people to join our industry.
• Get involved in Open Doors ‐ Promote your Open Doors events as a unique way for people to learn more about what it is like to work in the industry and the opportunities available.

For any CITB‐registered members who are looking for support with apprenticeships, CITB’s New Entrant Support Team is available to help with finding, recruiting and retaining apprentices, and further information can be found in its Employer Support Welcome Pack.

 

Common Assessment Standard 

Crown Commercial Service has confirmed that suppliers applying to its new Construction Works and Associated Services Framework, worth up to £80 billion, must be certified to the Common Assessment Standard developed by Build UK. The framework will run from October 2026 until October 2034, and the contract notice is now available.