1. Why should we take fleet driver training seriously?
2. So why should we be concerned?
3. How can we check what people are doing when they are off-site?
4. What regulations?
5. What would be involved in undertaking a driving assessment?
6. What are the benefits to be derived from undertaking such assessments?
7. We want to comply with the regulations - can you help?
8. We don't have any risk assessment procedure in place - can you help?
9. What assessments does the fleet trainer make?
10. Can you give me some idea of prices please?
11. Is there somewhere we can get more information?

1. Why should we take fleet driver training seriously?

It is estimated that a third of all road traffic accidents involve someone who is at work at the time. Extensive research has also shown that approximately 20 people are killed each week as a direct result of such accidents.

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2. So why should we be concerned?

Many employers believe that as long as they ensure that they comply with the legality of running a vehicle (or vehicles), and the vehicle(s) is/are in their opinion roadworthy, then thats where their liability ends. However, the Health & Safety regulations require employers to be responsible for the safety, as far as is reasonably possible, of all their employees while at work. This INCLUDES those employees who drive as part of their work duties. It may be impractical for you to monitor individual employees driving habits, and knowing whether they are 'high risk'.

A Fleet Safety Audit carried out in July 2007 found that:

• Only 47% of companies have a written, signed & dated Safety, Health & Environmental Management (SHEM) policy, which includes clear objectives and a commitment to improving driver safety performance
• Just 44% of companies optimise work schedules and travel requirements to minimise road risks and to encourage compliance with speed limits and working time regulations and road safety laws
• Only 54% of companies give all new employees a formal induction that covered policy, equipment familiarisation, collision & fuel reporting, emergency procedures, vehicle checking/maintenance, and the importance of safety for brand reputation
• Only 58% of companies have a system in place to maintain driver records, including medical/health information, reference & licence checks, training records & qualifications as well as collision history & fuel effeciency

Such risks should be assessed and reduced within an established Safety, Health & Environmental Management (SHEM) policy.

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3. How can we check what people are doing when they are off-site?

As mentioned above, risks relating to employees who are off-site can be assessed under the umbrella of the Safety, Health & Environmental Management arrangements for your particular company. You should immediately check what these arrangements are, and find out if they allow for people who are out driving as part of their work-related duties. If they do not, then your Safety, Health & Envirnmental arrangements are incomplete and you are not complying with the regulations.

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4. What regulations?

The Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require you to carry out an assessment of the risks to the health & safety of your employees while they are at work, and to other people who might be affected by their work activities. The regulations require you to periodically review your risk assessment so that it remains appropriate. You are required to consult with your employees, and wherever necessary, their health & safety representatives on all matters relating to their duties. This includes those off-site employees who are driving as part of their duties.

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5. What would be involved in undertaking a driving assessment?

An employee assessment would follow as below:

• A short presentation on the need for Occupational Road Safety Awareness, with validation & interaction
• Discussion with the employee as to their work-related driving, i.e. hours of driving delivery schedules, loading, security, mobile phones, fatigue etc
• A visible vehicle check, based on the 'POWER' principle + vehicle familiarisation
• Cockpit Drill + pre-start checks
• An observed drive of 35 to 40 minutes, identifying, analysing & rectifying any risks as they occur
• A final risk profile for each individual employee, signed & dated by all parties present, and passed onto the line manager, then the person responsible for risk assessments, usually the Health & Safety manager

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6. What are the benefits to be derived from undertaking such assessments?

There are many benefits to be derived from implementing and following through a risk assessment programme:

• It allows you to exercise better control over costs, such as wear and tear and fuel (by following tried and tested method of vehicle sympathy & eco-safe driving techniques)
• Better value insurance & legal costs, i.e. employees and third parties

Research has indicated that by effectively managing work-related road safety, there are many benefits, including:

• Fewer work-related crashes
• Fewer days lost due to injury
• Reduced risk of work-related ill health
• Reduced stress and improved employee morale
• Less need for investigation and paperwork
• Less lost time due to work re-scheduling
• Reduced running costs through better driving standards
• Less chance of key employees being banned from driving e.g. as a result of them obtaining too many penalty points

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7. We want to comply with the regulations - can you help?

Yes is the simple answer that. For a one-off fee (see price list) we can arrange for our Fleet Driver Trainer to meet with the person (or persons) responsible for health & safety. From the information gathered, you can then update or formulate your risk assessment procedures.

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8. We don't have any risk assessment procedure in place - can you help?

Again, this is not a problem. Please discuss this with the Fleet Trainer.

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9. What assessments does the fleet trainer make?

During the driving assessment, our Fleet Driver Trainer would be assessing how the employee deals with the various hazards they are presented with and every-day traffic situations, i.e. their use of mirrors, where they position their vehicle, how they use speed etc. The trainer would also be noting such things as separation distance, attitude to other road users, how the deal with aggressive drivers, environmental issues and eco-safe driving techniques, vehicle safety and sympathy, legal responsibilities, driver and passenger safety, security and loading. Some of these things would not apply to all drivers. The trainer would also be gathering information from employees as to their individual time management i.e. for those who are making scheduled deliveries, their knowledge of maximum hours driving, whether or not they take specified breaks, their mobile phone use, the effects of drinking and drug use while driving, etc.

Many of the above things would be assessed when formulating or checking current risk assessment procedures, but in addition you would need to look at such things as what pre-employment checks are in place i.e. the person you're about to employ might produce a clean licence, but may have had all endorsements recently removed - they may constantly break speed limits. Would you want your company logo, as it appears emblazoned across your vehicles, given a bad name? I think not. Are your drivers aware of your work-related driving policy. You would also need to consider whether or not your drivers are properly trained, whether or not they know what to do if involved in an accident. Are your drivers in good health and physically fit, in as far as this relates to them carrying out their duties??? Maybe an employee is on medication as has not informed you. Do you check suitability of vehicles when hiring or purchasing? You need to assess suitability of routes, journey planning and work schedules. Most sleep-related accidents occur between 2am and 6am, and 2pm and 4pm. There are other factors that go into formulating risk assessments, and these will be discussed if necessary.

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10. Can you give me some idea of prices please?

Please click on the price list link.

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11. Is there somewhere we can get more information?

Yes, please follow this link to the website of the Department for Transport: http://www.dft.gov.uk

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