As the roads become more dangerous year after year, it’s crucial for companies to take full control of their fleets’ driver risk. With the number of crashes and expensive claims on the rise, companies can’t afford to be in the dark when it comes to poor driving behavior – they need to be proactive and leverage every opportunity available to improve the safety culture across their driver population.
In order to establish a positive, proactive safety culture, you need to have 100% buy-in from your drivers – as they are the ones behind the wheel with the most control over their own driver risk. With this in mind, understanding your drivers’ perspective on your company’s current approach to safety is a great place to start. You may learn that your safety policies, driver training and other methods to promote safety are not as effective as you once thought.
By asking the right questions, you can generate feedback from your drivers that will help you discover opportunities to better mitigate driver risk.
Download Now | Guide: How to Implement a Comprehensive Driver Safety Program
Is Your Company’s Driver Safety Policy Clear?
Your drivers need to have a clear understanding of your company’s driver safety standards – this is an integral step in ensuring your drivers know that careless driving habits are not tolerated. If driver responsibilities and company rules are clear and strongly enforced from the get-go, companies will inevitably experience a lower incidence of preventable accidents and claims. This includes actions to be taken, such as training and intervention, if drivers are found to be in violation of rules set within the safety policy.
An effective driver safety policy must address certain basic items and may include additional policies and procedures specific to your company’s operations. Of these basic requirements, the following elements should be present in any effective driver safety policy:
- Policy statement
- Key definitions
- Qualification and hiring procedures
- Driver qualification files and driver records
- Drug and alcohol policy
Though these five items cover the basics, the more you can include the better.
Do Your Drivers Feel Confident in Their Defensive Driving Skills?
Defensive driving is the practice of anticipating dangerous situations to minimize risk and avoid crashes, despite adverse conditions or the mistakes of others while operating a motor vehicle.
94% of crashes are due to human behavior. Poor driving habits have been on the rise since 2019, including speeding, alcohol-impaired driving, unrestrained passengers and inattentive driving.
With the increased risk of having employees behind the wheel, it’s more important than ever for companies to ensure their teams feel confident when it comes to avoiding distractions, effective communication, fatigue management, evaluating space, navigating hazards and much more.
Discover more about how your company can combat the growing driver risk and establish a fleet of defensive drivers by watching our webinar, The Fundamentals of Defensive Driving.
Are Your Drivers Trained Frequently Enough?
Frequent training is extremely beneficial, both for new hires and for seasoned drivers. With ongoing training that explores various skills, new drivers can gain the knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe behind the wheel. If your drivers are unsure about their driving abilities, nerves, stress and poor performance will follow – creating dissatisfaction in their role. And even though they may be experienced, long-time employees, the same can happen to veteran drivers when they are required to adjust their driving routines, such as using new vehicles or technologies.
When it comes to proactively training your drivers, the evidence of its effectiveness is clear. Those who incorporate frequent, ongoing training and assign courses monthly have far fewer violations – 25% less than the industry average and 50% less than fleets who train twice a year.
Are Your Drivers Satisfied in Their Role?
Driver satisfaction is an essential factor in ensuring employee buy-in of your company’s safety culture. And with the growing driver shortage, it’s more important now than ever to ensure your drivers know that their individual success, safety and wellbeing are all a top priority. Companies can promote safety buy-in and maintain stronger driver retention rates by improving onboarding processes, rewarding their best drivers and much more.
Can Your Company Put More Effort into Promoting a Stronger Safety Culture?
Your drivers are your most important asset. It’s an employer’s responsibility to ensure that drivers have the support and resources they need to succeed. If you are unsure of where to start when it comes to championing your drivers in their roles, ask them if there are other improvements that can be made. They may request training for specific skills or technologies you can implement to help them feel safer and more confident behind the wheel.
What to learn more about how you can establish and maintain a positive safety culture across your fleet? Download our white paper, How to Implement a Comprehensive Driver Safety Progam. 