The competition forms part of its its project: Preventing Road Accidents and Injuries for the Safety of Employees (PRAISE), which aims to increase road safety in the work context and "praise" best practices.

The competition aims to spur on companies throughout the EU to tackle road safety at work. The ETSC is searching for entrants who can demonstrate what they have achieved through their efforts to reduce collisions at work and, or while commuting to and from work. The panel of judges will evaluate entrants based on a number of criteria including evidence of progress, innovation and lasting efforts.

The "PRAISE Award" is presented annually at the PRAISE Brunch. British Telecom won the first PRAISE award last year.

For the second year of the competition, the ETSC has opened two separate categories: one for SMEs and one category for larger employers.

ETSC's executive director Antonio Avenoso said: 'I hope this award will spur small and medium-sized employers also to take on the road safety challenge and reap the benefits of managing their businesses as an integral part of their working practice. Even in such a harsh climate introducing road safety measures makes good business sense.

For more information on the competition and to obtain an electronic application form, please visit: http://www.etsc.eu/documents/PRAISE%20AWARD%202011%20Information.pdf