Why should you invest in driver training?

There are three fundamental reasons fleets should invest in behavioural-based driver training.

1. The preservation of human life.

2. To reduce expenditure on straightening bent vehicles.

3. To reduce motor vehicle operating costs, including fuel, tyres and repairs and maintenance.

Losing a colleague can have a devastating and profound impact on a business. The problem is, that unlike computers, people minds cannot be backed up, in other words, the knowledge, experience, professionalism and talent that you put in a car can be terminated in a split second.

Obviously losing a workmate a boss or even an office acquaintance will inevitably prove detrimental to business productivity. It is also a very difficult and challenging situation to manage tactfully, particularly without upsetting those who worked closely with the victim.

How long should you leave the victims personal effects in the office? Who can go to the funeral and how long can employees have off to recover from their loss? What obligation does the company have to help the deceased drivers spouse?

Then there is the time consuming and challenging task of recruiting an employee to replace the deceased. This may be further compounded by the difficulties this person will face when wanting to change or dispense with any strategies put in place by their predecessor.

The list of challenges that such a situation presents is endless. An organisation that has actively promoted a fleet safety strategy will find themselves in a significantly better position than an organisation that has ignored the need for such an approach.

The truth is that such events will always result in a knee-jerk reaction from those responsible for OH&S and fleet safety. This will then start staff questioning why such action was initiated after one of their colleagues was killed and not before. Employees will then look unfavourably on the ethos of the organisation and those empowered to make such decisions.

Streets Ahead would be the first to highlight the fact that driver training should not be regarded as the exclusive answer. It is however a step in the right direction. It should also be highlighted that Streets Ahead are happy to, and in fact will support companies to develop more comprehensive fleet safety programs.

Companies who embrace the big picture safety culture will find that the financial rewards will take care of themselves. Research suggests that companies adopting a pro-active rather than a reactive strategy in the OH&S sector are far more likely to achieve success.

The National Safety Council of Australia predicts the average cost of a business related crash to be $18,000 when all factors are considered. And when you consider the hidden costs of crashes such as administration, rehabilitation, loss of productivity, hire cars, taxis, legal expenses along with the time consuming task of collecting and returning vehicles, maybe they are not all that far off the mark.

As we say: "Training is an Investment - Invest Wisely"