If your drivers spend a good chunk of time in neighborhoods making deliveries, house calls and more, there are two important stats they should always keep top of mind. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration,
The biggest danger in a neighborhood are not the transient drivers coming in and out but instead the people who live there. When drivers are in a familiar environment, they go on “auto-pilot.” They’ve driven their own neighborhood a million times, so they’re physically behind the wheel but their mental focus is occupied elsewhere.
Free Whitepaper: Six Questions to Ask When Implementing Driver Training
These inattentive drivers move like zombies! They feel comfortable driving due to the familiarity of the area but are doing so with very little brainpower. Worse, because these drivers feel comfortable in their own neighborhood and feel as if they recognize all hazards at hand, they often drive faster!
Distracted driving from residents is just one of several hazards awaiting your company’s drivers in residential areas. Do you feel as if your drivers have the skills and knowledge needed to safely navigate local neighborhoods?
While this may seem as if it’s an easy skillset, we’re here to tell you it’s quite the opposite.
If your company’s drivers partake in many final mile deliveries or if your drivers frequently visit customers’ homes to conduct services offered by your business, you need delivery driver safety training specifically around defensive driving.
Defensive driver training can significantly reduce collision-related expenses and reputation-ruining neighborhood incidents. That said, enrolling drivers in any old training isn’t enough to prevent your company’s good name from showing up in a rant about reckless driver behavior in a branded vehicle on social media.
An average defensive driving program reminds drivers to slow down and keep their head on a swivel. While that’s good advice, an effective defensive driving course tells drivers what to look out for and how to drive strategically.
For example, when one of your company’s drivers see a vehicle driving slowly, the person behind the wheel may be lost. A company driver should be prepared to do any of the following:
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Be proactive. If your drivers make house calls – no matter the industry, including plumbers, electricians, framers, pest control and more – a quick chat with the customer can prevent problems and delays.
Create a checklist of questions your drivers should ask when setting up the appointment, such as:
Comprehensive training is integral to ensure the utmost safety of your company’s drivers, even in the most unsuspecting places, like residential neighborhoods. The benefits of driver training are unmatched and can adequately prepare your drivers for any event, including common hazards such as:
Are you sold on driver training to protect your drivers but aren’t sure where to get started? Download our guide and learn about the six questions companies like yours should be asking when looking to implement driver training technology.