Hon Fellow Sarah Bell Traffic Commissioner invited IOC chief executive Tracey Worth to speak about the sector and some of the challenges to the members of the WRRSC. Introductions around the forum with the caution that the forum was a no-blame culture. The committee, focused on road safety, is a forum for ideas and views of experiences. Representation from across different industries and sectors included Highways England, DfT, Traffic Commission and PACTs.

Tracey Worth from IOC and Richard Mawson from Next plc were the June keynotes.

Talking about how online e-retail is causing ‘an exploding market’ as the number of online sales keeps going up and the journey of the pineapple which can end up as a ‘free delivery’ to your home and how this is representative of the customer demand 'client chain not supply chain’. The wider industry picture is one of growth and this will bring more vehicles to the road and more journeys to the parcels. Richard Mawson from Next distribution head of driver training joined Tracey to give a broader understanding of how retail comply and provide the service through their own and their logistics partners, Hermes and DHL. A comprehensive training policy is in place and compliance at all levels adhered to.

Questions from the room showed interest in the habits of individual companies and how the IOC could encourage excellence in driving, working to promote 'Driving for Better Business' programme and how compliance was regulated. Both presentations had highlighted how the sector was working to approach these challenges placed on them as a retailer or delivery service.

Comment was made during the discussion of good, safe drivers, that it wasn't necessarily just those in a branded vehicle representing a brand that could be considered as safe drivers, protecting the brand; but consider the owner-driver who is working for themselves. The owner-driver takes greater care not to have incidents or cause damage to the vehicle as the vehicle is the job that brings the income in. What was agreed was the ‘customer was king’ and all roads should lead to good working practices, especially related to road safety.