The highest risk in terms of injury within any business environment, even high‐threat regions, often comes from road traffic accidents (RTAs). An RTA may result from poor driving standards, difficult road conditions, or as a secondary risk following an attack. It is important that policies and procedures reflect the risk of road travel relevant to a particular country, region, or threat environment. Some considerations that might be useful when considering the risk impacts of an RTA are:
§ What are the risks associated with the local road conditions?
§ What is the level of competence of local national drivers?
§ What threats are faced from hostile groups?
§ What threats are faced from security measures required (in terms of driving) to avoid hostile persons or group threats?
§ What are the local laws governing actions following an RTA?
§ How do local laws conflict with security risks from hostile persons or groups?
§ What is the impact of an RTA, especially if a local national is injured or killed?
§ What is the action following an RTA within a safe, medium‐risk, and high‐risk location?
§ What special training is required to mitigate driver risks?
Companies should also consider the serviceability of vehicles, as the degree of mechanical reliability and structural safety of locally leased or procured vehicles may render them unsuitable or unsafe for company use. Companies should also ensure that vehicles are properly equipped with breakdown equipment and emergency stores (e.g., medical kits, water, food, communications, spare tires, flashlights, and so on). A well‐trained local driver may mitigate some of the risks associated with RTAs, providing a liability buffer between the company and the event. Companies should also consider whether vehicles are suitable for the road conditions, and what emergency equipment should be included within each vehicle. Typical risk factors associated with driving might include:
§ Collision resulting in injuries and damages.
§ Overturned or damaged vehicle resulting in trapped occupants.
§ Arrest and liability following an accident.
§ Violent response by the community as a result of injured locals, livestock, or property.
§ Passengers being made vulnerable to criminal or insurgent threats.
§ Passengers being stranded due to inoperable vehicles.
§ Loss of high‐value or sensitive materials due to vehicle damage or abandonment.
§ Media or reputational issues connected to vehicle accident.
Hostile environment training should also acquaint personnel with vehicle security awareness. Where possible, the vehicle should look as if locally owned, the interior should also be clean so that suspicious items can be more easily identified, valuables should be locked in the trunk, no logos or markings should be visible, and vehicles should be parked within well‐lit and secured areas where possible. In some environments, vehicles should be checked for tampering, and in some countries fuels may be contaminated or watered down, causing engine failure.
In the event of an RTA, the incident manager should utilize the IMP data forms and guidelines to ensure that all facts are gathered quickly in order to assess the extent of the risks remaining to personnel, as well as their impacts. If required, liaison with legal representation should be conducted to offset liability, and persons should be collected and transported to medical attention or a safe location if appropriate. Adherence to local laws should be implemented, unless such courses of action place the personal safety of individuals at risk. Witness statements and reports should be collated and an investigation conducted. Compensation should be made where appropriate. Disciplinary action should be taken when blame lies with the driver, and repairs should be made to any damaged assets.
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