Road marking contractor WJ Linkline Group has achieved bronze accreditation from the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS).
FORS is an accreditation scheme led by Transport for London (TfL) and is designed to improve vulnerable road user safety across London and throughout the UK. With an alarming number of serious and fatal injury accidents involving cyclists and other vulnerable road users, TfL now expect all drivers of vehicles on their LoHAC contracts with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) over 3.5 tonnes to undertake the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Approved Driver Training for Safe Urban Driving (SUD) within 60 days of a contract start date, unless they have undertaken similar driver training in the last three years.
In 2013, there were 14 cyclist fatalities in London with nine involving large goods vehicles (LGV) which highlighted again the need to take measures to improve road safety and increase awareness of the risks when travelling or working on our busy transport networks.
In addition to driver training, FORS also introduces an established standard for LGV’s operating on the TfL network. This includes additional signage on vehicles to warn cyclists of potential dangers and driver aids to improve visibility in ‘blind spots’.
WJ Linkline director Paul Aldridge said: “TfL are committed to improving the safety of all vulnerable road users in London and a growing number of our main contractor clients including Skanska, Costain, CVU, EM Highways, and Lafarge Tarmac have communicated their support for the FORS scheme. This is encouraging for us as we too strive to be at the forefront of safety standards in the road marking sector.”
All of the company’s London based drivers have received Safe Urban Driving (SUD) training which will be expanded to all WJ Linkline Group drivers ensuring uniformity across the business.
WJ Linkline Group owns and operates 205 vehicles including 120 LGV road construction vehicles and has recently set up a Driving Standards Agency (DSA) approved driver training division, providing internal and external LGV driver training as well as introducing a series of industry related driver certificate of professional competence (CPC) courses.
