Why do we need fleet driver training

About Drive Shetland
Why do we need fleet training?
Benefits to your company
Course details
What do the regulations say
Contact

Petur Petursson proprietor of Drive Shetland School of Motoring (formally Petur's Driving School) has been a Driving Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor since 1993 and is also a member of the institute of Advanced Motorists. Petur recently achieved The Royal Society for the protection of accidents (RoSPA) Diploma in Advanced driver instruction and is now able to provide driver development courses to companies in Shetland and UK Mainland who provide their staff with vehicles.

go back to contents

Why do we need fleet driver training?

On average over 3,500 people are killed on British roads each year - the equivalent of 10 every day.

25% of fatalities are caused by those driving whilst `at work'

A company driver covering 30,000 miles per annum has a 1:250 chance of being killed, i.e., higher than a deep sea diver or miner.

In a typical year there are over 320,000 casualties associated with road traffic accidents

The cost of road accidents is enormous - the average `bent metal' cost is £700, but...

Research suggests that the real cost of a road accident could be between 4 and 32 times the `bent metal' cost, i.e., a minimum of £2,800

Government figures state the real cost of a fatal accident is in excess of 1 million

Research proves that untrained drivers spend only 25% of their time concentrating on the actual task of driving

95% of all accidents are attributable to human error alone

66% of company cars are subject to an insurance claim every year

There are approximately three million company owned vehicles in the UK at present. It's estimated that as few as 10% have received any form of additional driver training

Driver training WORKS. Statistics from insurance companies, government departments, car manufacturers and fleet customers prove accident rates drop by at least 25% after initial training

Forthcoming and some existing health and safety legislation suggests that employers may be liable in circumstances, where company car drivers who have not been properly equipped to perform the task are involved in an accident which results in death or injury

NB The NHS now has the mandate and operational infrastructure in place to reclaim the cost of medical treatment for road accident victims from employers or their insurance companies.

go back to contents

Benefits to your company

YOUR COMPANY BENEFITS FROM

Up to 60% Reduction in Accidents
Lower insurance costs
More productive staff
Reduced claims Administration
Improved Fuel consumption
Reduced maintenance costs
An improved health and safety culture
Improved Company Image

YOUR DRIVERS BENEFIT FROM

Improved personal safety
Stress Reduction
Improved personal skills
Reduced time off the road

You run a fleet of vehicles, so you already know that it is an expensive business.

You may not know that about 81% of costs can be controlled as the chart below (taken from the ICFM Guide to Car Fleet Management)

Certain of the cost elements e.g. Vehicle Excise Licence, Funding and Administration are not greatly influenced by the way the fleet is managed. Other costs such as Accident and Insurance, Fuel, Depreciation, Maintenance and Vehicle Replacement certainly are.

The key element is cost control and the major influence on cost control is the way the vehicle is driven. An untrained driver is an unnecessary cost because your control is limited.

A trained driver costs you significantly less.

The majority of drivers have little knowledge of driving techniques or a technical understanding of how their actions behind the wheel will affect vehicle costs or their own safety. Hence the need for training.

Most companies spend a significant amount of money on training their staff, from sales techniques to customer service. Yet company drivers are sometimes entrusted with an expensive asset with absolutely no training, apart from that received to pass their basic driving test, often many years before.

Driving is normally the most dangerous daily activity for most people and practical Driver Training Courses will greatly reduce that danger.

go back to contents

Course Details

Driver Development
The Dirve Shetland Driver Development Course is a carefully planned programme of theoretical tuition and on the road in-vehicle training, which can be tailored to meet your specific requirements.

The course aims provide: improved understanding of the vehicle; improved level of concentration and use of all round observation; improved anticipation; ability to deal systematically with hazards; improved mental attitude.

In-vehicle Training and Assessment
In-vehicle training is appropriate for assessing new or existing staff who may need initial training or remedial action following a poor accident record, as preparation for an Advanced Driving Test, or as part of a defensive driving course. Training is carried out in company vehicles, normally on a one to one basis.

OUR COURSES COVER

Anticipation
Attitude & Behavior
Concentration
Greater Awareness/Observation
Personal Safety
Vehicle Handling

COURSE LOCATION

We come to you and can train anywhere in the UK

FACILITIES

We need a suitable training room (this can be provided) - we can provide the audio/visual equipment. We also need suitable vehicles for the practical training. Group Sizes - can be from 2 to 12.

COURSE FORMAT

Most clients choose a morning theory session which can be followed by in vehicle training on subsequent days theory and practical around your commitments.

AFTER THE COURSE

Each driver receives a certificate and written report. The companies transport manager will also receive a copy of the report.

FURTHER TRAINING

go back to contents

What do the regulations actually say?

The Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999 state:

"Risk assessment

Section 3. (1) Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work; and b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking – for the purpose of identifying the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon him by or under the relevant statutory provisions and by Part II of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997."

Section 3 (2) imposes similar conditions on self-employed personnel regarding their own safety, while Section 3 (3) says:

"Any assessment such as is referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) shall be reviewed by the employer or self employed person who made it if a) there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid; or b) there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates; and where as a result of any such review, changes to an assessment are required, the employer or self-employed person concerned shall make them."

Paragraph 6 (of section 3) adds:

"Where the employer employs five or more employees, he shall record a) the significant findings of the assessment; and b) any group of his employees identified by it as being especially at risk."

Section 7 (1) makes it clear that every employer should "appoint one or more competent persons to assist him in undertaking the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements", while 7 (5) says such a person should have "sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable him properly to assist in undertaking the measures referred in paragraph (1)."

Law says individual risk assessments for each company driver must be carried out

Companies operating fleets of vehicles can no longer afford to adopt an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude towards their drivers, once they leave the car park.

The Government recently-published (March 2000) Road Safety Strategy hinted at the need for employers needed to do more, but failed to spell out clearly enough the action company directors and managers must take to stay within the law.

Basically there are two steps you should take to stay out of trouble, and ensure your drivers are as safe as they can be.

1). Carry out safety assessments on all staff, covering ALL their activities during their time at work – including any time behind the wheel.
2). Take remedial action where necessary – if staff appear at risk from any activity (including driving).

Obviously in the case of drivers, this might entail special theory or on-road training.

For your own peace of mind and (that of your colleagues!) the following pages might help.

go back to contents

Contact.

Please enter your contact details below and I will get in touch with you. Alternatively you can mail me at petur@lineone.net or phone me on 01595 694843. I look forward to hearing from you.

go back to contents