ODS launches workforce safety campaign as dangerous driving incidents put frontline crews at risk

ODS is launching a new workforce safety campaign following a number of near miss incidents involving domestic and commercial recycling and waste crews.

The campaign, known as DROPs (Driving Recklessly on Pavements), aims to remind motorists to slow down, be patient around working vehicles, and recognise that the people collecting waste and recycling are carrying out essential frontline services and deserve to do so safely.

ODS crews continue to report dangerous driving behaviour while working on streets across the city, including motorists mounting pavements, attempting to squeeze past collection vehicles in narrow roads, and making last-second overtakes. These incidents not only put waste and recycling crews at risk, they also put pedestrians, other frontline workers and the public at risk. Children often share the same spaces as our operatives, making them vulnerable to dangerous driving, too.

Dangerous driving

Between March 2025 and August 2026, ODS recorded 15 incidents of vehicles driving dangerously on pavements around recycling and waste collection operations. Every incident was reported to the police.

We are aware that some reports have resulted in prosecution including a fine and ban from driving.

The issue reflects a wider national trend, with waste industry operators reporting thousands of incidents involving reckless driving around collection crews each year. Alarming statistics from the Department of Transport show that 445 people were killed in collisions involving a working driver – accounting for 29% of all road fatalities

ODS teams carry out vital services every day to keep Oxford clean and moving. The organisation collects more than half a million domestic bins every month, alongside providing commercial waste and recycling services to businesses across the city.

To support the campaign, ODS has introduced new safety messaging on staff uniforms and collection vehicles designed to humanise crews and encourage greater consideration from road users.

New high-visibility clothing worn by frontline staff includes messages such as:

"Someone's waiting for me at home"

"Protect the people who look after your streets"

Meanwhile, new vehicle safety signage carries reminders including:

"Someone's loved one is behind this truck"

"This street is someone's workplace"

The campaign seeks to highlight a simple message: every crew member is someone's parent, partner, child, friend or loved one, and everyone deserves to return home safely at the end of their shift.

Comments

"Our recycling and waste crews deliver essential services to residents and businesses every day, often working in challenging environments and busy streets.

"We see near miss incidents involving dangerous driving, including vehicles mounting pavements, attempting risky overtaking and squeezing through spaces where it simply isn't safe to do so.

"Behind every collection vehicle and every member of our workforce is a person with family and loved ones waiting for them at home

"The message is clear: the street is a workplace, and everyone has a role to play in protecting the people who keep Oxford's streets clean. A few extra seconds of waiting could prevent a serious accident."
Councillor Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies

"Health and safety is one of ODS' core values. We continue to strengthen the measures we have in place to protect our staff through training, equipment, reporting systems, on-street safety practices and CCTV technology fitted to our fleet. But keeping people safe is a shared responsibility and we need motorists to play their part.

“No one should face unnecessary risks simply for doing their job."
Martin Shields, ODS Assistant Director of Health and Safety

Protecting frontline workers

ODS has continued to invest in safety measures for its workforce, including enhanced training, improved reporting systems, specialist equipment and CCTV technology across its vehicle fleet. However, the organisation is urging all road users to help create safer streets by:

• slowing down when approaching waste and recycling collection vehicles

• allowing crews space to work safely

• avoiding overtaking unless it is clearly safe to do so

• never driving onto pavements to pass working vehicles

• remaining patient during collections.

A few seconds saved is never worth risking a life.