Driving policy

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 3 January 2005
  • Generated on 20 August 2026
  • IMCA SF 01/05
  • 1 minute read

A Member has recently issued a reminder to its employees of that company’s driving policy. 

Members may find the points below useful.

  • It is understood that vehicular incidents and people being struck by objects are now the most common cause of accidents in the industry.

  • The use of seatbelts is an obvious aid to safety, lessening injury and increasing the chances of survival in serious accidents. In many countries, to not use a seatbelt risks incurring financial and other penalties.

  • The use of mobile telephones while driving is increasingly shown to be a cause of accidents and the practice is being made illegal in a growing number of locations, again risking fines, suspension or revocation of the driving licence or other penalties.

The Member reminds its employees:

“It’s not just your own wellbeing, but also that of others, either on the road or in your vehicle, whose safety you could be putting at risk.”

Latest Safety Flashes:

GPS jamming and spoofing – good practice example

A Member’s vessel in the Red Sea encountered GPS jamming.

Read more
LTI – Shoulder strain when crew member was descending the stairs

A crew member sustained an injury to their shoulder as they were descending a flight of stairs into an ROV hangar.

Read more
Emergency escape hatch found blocked

Emergency escape hatch to the deck could not be opened.

Read more
Crew member sustained hand injury during lifting operations

A crew member sustained a hand injury during a lifting operation involving a main engine cylinder head.

Read more
NOPSEMA: Lifting operations dangerous occurrences and injuries

NOPSEMA has published a safety bulletin relating to lifting operations in the offshore industry.

Read more

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.

The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.

All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.

The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.

Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.