IAM RoadSmart launches new accreditation scheme to de-risk business driving

IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s largest road safety charity, has launched a professional accreditation programme designed to help organisations better understand and improve the way that they manage business driving risks.

Built around recognised industry best practice and aligned with the latest Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) work-related road safety framework, the IAM RoadSmart Accreditation Scheme assesses how effectively organisations manage driver risk, legal compliance with legal and duty of care responsibilities, and safety performance.

With accreditation awarded across three tiers – Bronze, Silver and Gold – the scheme moves beyond a simple compliance checklist, and is based around real-world evidence, recognising organisations not for what documents they hold, but for how effectively they manage risk in practice.

While the Bronze tier recognises organisations meeting essential legal and duty of care requirements, Silver is awarded to those actively managing and improving performance using data. Gold, meanwhile, is reserved for those organisations who can demonstrate that they have a fully embedded, proactive road safety culture across their operations. By working to the standards within each tier, fleets may not only improve driver safety, but they could also save repair costs through fewer collisions.

Department for Transport statistics show that in 2025, there were more than 400 people killed on the roads involving someone driving for work*.

To take part in the scheme, organisations must submit evidence around their driver risk policies, telematics data, training records, and incident data. Submitted evidence is assessed against a structured scoring framework across four pillars: management, compliance, risk management, and performance. Based on the evidence provided, the framework determines the appropriate accreditation tier.

All submitted evidence is stored securely within IAM RoadSmart and is accessible only to authorised assessors and administrators.

A robust diagnostic report will be prepared, that provides a thorough analysis of findings, identifies critical gaps, and sets out tailored recommendations for improvement enabling the organisation to reach their target tier. This report will act as a strategic improvement tool, enabling the organisation to develop a focused action plan.

Nicholas Lyes, Policy & External Communications Director at IAM RoadSmart, said: “Achieving an IAM RoadSmart accreditation is an effective way for organisations to improve road safety by reducing driving risk and helping to prevent collisions. It also helps them to identify high-risk drivers through meaningful data, build a positive safety culture, and show compliance with health & safety and driving for work responsibilities.

“Demonstrating their commitment to employee and public safety will also help organisations to enhance their reputation and differentiate them from their competitors. This is while increasing operational efficiency in the form of reduced vehicle damage and downtime, improved journey efficiency, and lower fleet operating costs through better driver performance.

“Unlike schemes that focus solely on compliance, our programme goes the extra mile to embed safer driving behaviours while demonstrating a genuine commitment to protecting employees, customers, and the wider community.”

To register for the IAM RoadSmart Driver Risk Accreditation Scheme, organisations can register their interest via its website and will receive further details outlining the programme, including the assessment process, evidence requirements and expected timelines.

For more information, please visit IAM RoadSmart.

ENDS

Notes to editors & references

* https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/more-than-400-people-killed-driving-for-work-in-2025

About IAM RoadSmart

IAM RoadSmart is the UK’s largest road safety charity providing advanced driving and motorcyclist training. It has a vision of a society where all road users can safely and sustainably use the public highways together. IAM RoadSmart was formed in March 1956 and has around 70,000 members that supports its campaigns on road safety. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses.

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit: www.iamroadsmart.com

To find out more about how IAM RoadSmart can help with fleet and work training visit: iamroadsmart.com/business

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IAM RoadSmart is a delivery partner of Driving for Better Business