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Commute safety: the silent responsibility companies must take
Two-thirds of work-related road deaths occur during daily commutes. How can employers act without legal authority over employees' routes?
Published on · Per: caradisiac
A deadly paradox at the office door
The figures are stark: according to the national road safety observatory, of 549 people killed during work-related travel in 2024, two-thirds died during their daily commute between home and office. This routine journey, seemingly ordinary, proves more fatal than professional missions themselves.
For the economy, the cost is staggering: 5 million work days lost annually through sick leave, with direct financial losses exceeding €725 million. Yet this paradox persists because employers lack direct legal levers to intervene.
The legal deadlock
Law classifies these accidents as "commute accidents"—a crucial distinction. While they receive similar insurance coverage as workplace incidents, they differ fundamentally by the absence of employer subordination. During the journey to work, employees fall outside their employer's authority.
Companies cannot mandate transport modes, inspect personal vehicles, or control route choices. Constitutionally, this time belongs to individual freedom and private life. Courts virtually exclude employer liability in such cases.
Invisible levers for change
Faced with this impasse, forward-thinking companies activate indirect mechanisms:
Schedule flexibility: removing rigid arrival times defuses rush-hour stress, the primary driver of speeding. Grace periods for late arrivals reduce risky driving behaviors.
Right to disconnect: banning calls or emails to employees during their commute improves road concentration and minimizes distraction.
Modal shift: encouraging public transit or cycling (supported by company-funded safety training) reduces accident exposure during peak hours.
Culture as the only effective weapon
Without power to sanction private commute behavior, employers must rely on shared safety culture. The 2026 Work Road Safety Days (JSRT) deploy engaging workshops—such as reconstructing accident mechanics—to embed the message in corporate culture.
The central challenge: convince all stakeholders that road safety doesn't stop at the office door—it begins at home. This silent managerial responsibility, despite lacking legal foundation, remains critical for saving lives.
Source: caradisiac
