Enhancing Workplace Road Safety through the Work-Related Road Safety Support Program

Abstract

 Work-related road safety remains a pressing concern in Malaysia, where crashes involving employees can disrupt organizational productivity, cause financial losses, and impose social burdens on both companies and families. These incidents not only affect the physical well-being of employees but also have broader implications for operational efficiency, reputation, and compliance with national safety standards. Although research in road safety has expanded in recent years, limited attention has been given to structured programs that directly support organizations in managing work-related road risks. Addressing this gap, the present study investigates the effectiveness of the Work-Related Road Safety Support Program (WRRSP) that was introduced and implemented in 40 selected organizations across Malaysia. The WRRSP was designed to help organizations establish safer operational practices, facilitate the adoption of systematic safety measures, and ultimately reduce the risk of road crashes among employees. The program includes expert consultations, organizational visits, and tailored recommendations on road safety practices, focusing on enhancing both management commitment and employee awareness. To evaluate the impact of the program, a questionnaire survey was distributed to participating organizations both before and after the program implementation. The instrument comprised three main sections: (A) organizational background; (B) background of the person-in-charge, organizational fleet, crash involvement, and existing road safety management practices; and (C) six domains of safety management, namely management commitment, system and process, monitoring and assessment, driver management, vehicle management, and journey management. Data collected from 40 organizations, 20 with WRRSP interventions and 20 without interventions—were analyzed using a univariate general linear model. The analysis revealed that organizations with WRRSP interventions reported a clear increase in road safety management practices and communication compared to those without interventions. Furthermore, significant increases were observed in employee WRRSP induction programs and fleet vehicle selection practices among organizations with interventions, highlighting the program’s influence in improving organizational-level safety initiatives. Overall, the findings suggest that the WRRSP is an effective tool in strengthening work-related road safety practices within organizations. The study emphasizes the importance of continuing and expanding such programs at the national level, as they contribute not only to reducing work-related crashes but also to building a sustainable culture of road safety management in Malaysia.