WHAT IS FLEET TRAINING

As part of the Government's strategy to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on Britain's roads they are pursuing a programme of driving assessment and, if necessary, re-training for drivers who are potentially at higher risk than normal.

Participants involved include the Health and Safety Executive, the Driving Standards Agency and a number of private training organisations. Currently the scheme is voluntary but research shows that companies who take part in the scheme can potentially reduce their operating costs and offer health and safety benefits to their drivers.

Although statistically the UK has one of the lowest road accident rates in the EC, nonetheless some 3,500 people die each year on UK roads and a further 320,000 are injured, some 40,000 suffering long-term incapacity.

The two groups of drivers most at risk are firstly the young (17 to 25yr olds) and secondly the company driver.

The young have accidents largely because of inexperience or immaturity. Measures are currently being sought to counter this. The company driver on the other hand because of extended usage.

Statistics show that the average driver (10,000 miles per year) has a 1 in 7 risk of an accident in any one year. For the high mileage (50,000+ per year) company driver this risk factor is increased by some 67%, a risk factor of 1 in 3.

This is not because the company driver overall is a worse driver than the average driver; it simply means that more miles and time on the road equals more exposure. Also, it does not mean that all drivers are equally at risk. All have differing levels of skills, some are very good, others not so good.

ACCIDENT STATISTICS

Over 95% of accidents are caused by driver error
The average driver has a 1 in 7 chance of a fatal or serious accident in any one year
This risk increases for company drivers by more than 60%
On average 9.5 people per day are killed by drivers
25-30% of all fatal accidents involve vehicles being driven for work
There are 320,000 serious casualties every year
The average fatal accident costs society £1,150,000 per death
Sources: DETR, Roadcraft

RISK ELEMENTS FOR DRIVERS

Driving too fast and too close to others for the prevailing conditions, (reduced safety margins).
Narrow margins of sensory information seeking, (lack of awareness and anticipation of others).
Reactive, rather than pro-active, driving adjustments, (insufficient allowance for the actions or impending actions of others).
Deliberate risk taking, including inappropriate overtaking/undertaking, cutting-in and a general bullish approach to driving. (Generally caused by aggressive behaviour and attitude).
Extended driver activity. Driving too far overall and with insufficient breaks, causing fatigue. (A particular problem for the company driver).
Lack of knowledge of correct driving procedures, and/or misinterpretation of correct procedures.
Incorrect interpretation of other's intentions and signals.
Poor observation techniques.
Poor vehicle control and vehicle maintenance. These are the major risk factors but there are many others that also cause accidents.

WHAT DOES FLEET TRAINING OFFER

Assessment and Re-Training

To seek the aspects of the driver's skills that could be adjusted to reduce risks
To suggest and perhaps demonstrate corrective measures that should counter these risk elements.

Every driver is at potential risk whenever they are driving. The purpose of assessment and correction is to try and reduce the risks to as low a level as possible.

Adjustments to the driving skills can only be made with acceptance and self-motivation, particularly as there is no requirement for a further formal driving test.

Certification

The Driving Standards Agency maintains the register of driving instructors who are suitably qualified to assess and correct fleet driver discrepancies.

In order to achieve uniformity, the DSA will control the qualification procedure.

Initially, trainers who could establish their routine involvement in the Fleet Training Industry, or who had successfully completed a DSA accredited training course, could apply to join the register, although they had to be registered ADIs to do so. This concession ended in April 2003.

The only route now for trainers to join the DSA register of Fleet Driver Trainers is to already be listed on the ADI register, and then to either successfully complete the DSA three-part examination for Fleet Trainers, or successfully complete a DSA accredited training course for Fleet Trainers.

Danco Driver Training already has a course to prepare ADIs wishing to take the DSA Fleet Trainers' examination but this new course is designed to gain DSA Accreditation and so allow a wider range of ADIs direct access to the Fleet Driver Register.

Any fleet driver who has taken an assessment and, if necessary, re-training by an Instructor on behalf of Driver Training Consultancy will be offered an intermediate progress record of their driving skills, followed by a certificate upon completion of the programme indicating the skill levels achieved.

In addition, and in certain circumstances, an initial and/or final appraisal may be available from staff of the Driving Standards Agency. A certificate of competence will be offered to successful drivers.

For details of this scheme contact Danco Driver Training

Corporate Driver Training

The Purpose of Corporate Driver Training is:

To reduce the risk of a driving-related accident
To reduce the stress caused by driving
To reduce the potential time taken away from work due to an accident of stress-related illness
To reduce the potential of long term disability
To reduce the potential of trauma to your family or other road users
To reduce the potential cost of vehicle repairs
To potentially reduce or contain vehicle insurance costs
To potentially reduce or contain employer liability costs
To potentially reduce additional employee cover costs
To potentially improve productivity and efficiency

HOW CAN RE-TRAINING ASSIST?

improve the driver's psychomotor skills
improve the driver's cognitive skills
improve the driver's effective skills

However - No re-training programme can operate in isolation. It requires co-operation and motivation from both the company drivers and the company

The needs

In the UK, drivers kill almost 3,000 people every year (it's an average of almost 9 a day).

The second highest risk sector is the company or fleet driver. It may be that they are no different in skill terms from other drivers. They do, however, have a longer exposure time on the road. They cover much greater distances at higher speeds, and are often subject to deadlines, which encourage risk taking. A driver covering 50,000 miles per year will spend much of each working day driving and their risk of an accident is increased substantially.

It is estimated that the probability of a crash for a company driver is more than 60% higher than for an average' driver.

Part of the Government's strategy is to reduce casualty figures, to encourage companies to have their high-mileage drivers assessed and, if necessary, re-trained periodically. Currently few companies adopt this policy.

Another need is for employees to maintain their improved knowledge and skill levels once the training is complete

Benefits for the trainer

Generally the trainer or re-trainer of company drivers should be able to achieve a higher income that of the trainer of learners.
It is not likely that companies will want employees assessed or trained at weekends, or during the evenings. This would incur overtime rates.
There will normally be no requirement for a test.
You will be working with experienced drivers.
It is also unlikely you will be working with anyone younger than 21.
There will be the prospect of a new and exciting challenge.
You will probably be working in different areas of the country.

Danco School of Motoring also offers you the opportunity to undertake the Pass Plus course!