Driving Policy

When you drive on behalf of Boxing Futures’ you must comply with the following:
• Do not leave visible items in your car such as bags, phones or other equipment.
• You will not drive at excessively early or late times when you may be exposed to tiredness
• If you are undertaking a long journey then you will take a 15-minute break every 2 hours
• Where possible, you avoid driving at night.
• You will not drive if you are experiencing any physical injuries that could prevent you from being a safe, responsive driver
• You must not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs (inclusive of any medication which may affect judgement)
• You will always adhere to the legal speed limits
• You will not or undertake any other distractions such as eating or drinking whilst driving
• Ensure that both you and your occupant(s) are wearing a seat belt(s)

Should your vehicle break down or be involved in an accident, besides contacting the emergency services, you contact Boxing Futures Ltd on 07541 283108 so that additional help and assistance can be provided if required.

Before offering to transport a service user or colleague in your vehicle, you must sign a disclaimer to confirm that you agree to work with Boxing Futures Ltd to ensure that any risks associated with driving whilst having one of our service users, volunteer colleagues or partners as a passenger, are properly identified and managed. You must agree that:
• You will not provide transport to a service user or colleague unless this activity has been pre-agreed with your Manager
• You manage the risks involved with driving a service user alone – for example always check your car has adequate fuel for a return journey and leave enough travel time to avoid taking risks owing to time pressure.

Boxing Futures’ policy on the use of mobile phones in vehicles, whether the vehicle is provided by Boxing Futures or is privately owned, is as follows:
• The use of handheld phones driving (including apps, texting, WhatsApp etc.)is not permitted. This includes phones with microphones and earpieces.
• Handheld phones must only be used when the vehicle is properly parked and the engine switched off. This does not include the hard shoulder of the motorway. It’s illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device that can send or receive data, while driving or riding a motorcycle. This means you must not use a device in your hand for any reason, whether online or offline. For example, you must not text, make calls, take photos or videos, or browse the web. The law still applies to you if you’re:
o stopped at traffic lights
o queuing in traffic
o supervising a learner driver
o driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving
o holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode

If you do not have a hands-free facility in your vehicle, the phone should be switched off or switched to your message service whilst driving and messages taken when you take a break in the journey.

If you have a hands-free facility, it should conform to the Department of Transport guidelines. Where applicable, the phone should be placed in the cradle while driving and caution used in its use when driving. Keypad actions should be minimised by using pre-sets for most commonly used numbers. Dialling full numbers must be restricted to when the vehicle is stationary.

The device must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.

To send and receive text messages and to make any form of input to apps etc, the vehicle should be properly parked as with handheld phones.

Staff should avoid calling staff when it is known or suspected that they may be driving.

The use of handheld mobile phones whilst driving is illegal and subject to ‘on the spot’ penalty fines. Boxing Futures will not accept any liability for any fixed penalty payments or fines as a result of staff being convicted.

In law you must always have proper control of your vehicle. If the use of a phone affects your control of the vehicle, causes you to drive without due care and attention or causes you to drive in a careless or dangerous manner, you could be prosecuted, receive a fine, disqualification or a prison sentence.

Any staff who do not comply with this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

This policy was approved on 17th June 2024.

Review date: May 2025.