Partner Article

Don't be in the dark, commute smart

After the clocks going back at the end of October, many commuters in the North East will be faced with the prospect of travelling both to and from work in the dark.

Commute Smart Week, which runs from 28 October to 3 November, aims to highlight the issues of commuting in the winter and to encourage employers to adopt smarter working practices. Employers are being urged to used flexible hours and home working options to help both their employees and the transport networks.

Simon Roberson, chairman of the flagship Work Wise North East campaign and BT regional manager said: “The knock-on effects of an often stressful and lengthy commute to work are felt not just in terms of poorer work – life balance for the worker, but also by the UK economy as a whole. “There is another way – if employers will allow a level of smarter working they can reduce this commuter gloom and may well see an improvement in staff wellbeing, and even an increase in productivity.”

Smarter working is expected to help limit the increase in deaths and injuries which occur on our roads during the winter months. According to the Department of Transport’s Road accident Report for 2006, the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured rose almost 11% between October and November.

To help employers and employees commute smart this winter, practical guides are available on the Work Wise web site www.workwiseuk.org.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .