Fleet transport and commercial insurance broker, McCarron Coates, has created its own board game to provide commercial HGV and van fleet operators with more food for thought about the legal framework in which they are operating.

It also gives them an innovative and engaging accompaniment to toolbox talks.

The new game, ‘Road Hierarchy’, builds on McCarron Coates’ efforts, since January 29, 2022, to communicate the implications of the Highway Code’s ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’, launched on that date.

The game also emphasises how McCarron Coates’ warnings of the  implications were realised in June 2022.  That came with the introduction of the motoring offence of ‘Causing Serious Injury by Careless or Inconsiderate Driving’.

Road Hierarchy takes the player through these heavyweight topics in an engaging way, with players moving around the board and having to pay a penalty, or earn a reward.  These come through landing on a scenario square. The scenario can be detrimental, if the player has exhibited poor driving behaviour or inadequate fleet management.  It can be positive, if aspects of good fleet management have been adopted.

The aim is to be the first player to achieve Star Operator status but, en route to that, the player must avoid ending up in HMP Hierarchy.  This ultimate penalty highlights how the offence of  ‘Causing Serious Injury by Careless or Inconsiderate Driving’ does not levy fines on those found guilty, but does impose driving bans and a prison sentence of up to two years. The game play also highlights that it is relatively easy to be caught out by this law, particularly when ‘serious’ can be interpreted as just a broken bone.

The degree of punishment levied by a judge can be directly influenced by the Hierarchy of Road Users.  If an HGV or LGV vehicle is involved in an incident with one of the most vulnerable road users – a pedestrian, horse rider, cyclist or motorcyclist – the punishment is likely to be more severe, according to sentencing guidelines.

‘Road Hierarchy’ will be distributed to McCarron Coates’ clients but is also available as a download to anyone wishing to get their head around the risks fleet drivers and their employers face, in an easy to grasp way.  It could be the ideal game to play as an accompaniment to toolbox talks – or just as a lunchtime diversion.  

McCarron Coates Director, Paul Coates, said, “Whether you are running an HGV, bus and coach, minibus or van fleet, this game has total relevance to you and your livelihood and liberty.  We’ve created it as a wake-up call, as there is a lot of complacency around the new rules and laws. Fleets really need to think about what’s been happening and respond fast.”

Fellow Director, Ian McCarron, said, “We have addressed the risk to fleets in different ways, directly offering clients the advantage of having our RTC Crisis Line service, which provides instant, sector-specific legal representation, in person, should any driver be interviewed under police caution. Now, we’re communicating the risk in a completely different way, whilst continuing to stress just how essential it is to have the right legal advice, should any driving incident involve the police.”

You can download the Road Hierarchy board game and accompanying instructions here.       

Photo: Paul Coates and Ian McCarron.