The key to improving safety for drivers on the road lies in the clever tactics and proactive actions of fleet managers.
Automobile accidents involving public transportation are always bound to happen. If a fleet encounters any such events, it has many additional costs other than the expenses of vehicle maintenance and repair.
It should have to grapple with insurance claims, heavy charges against court fees, and, worst of all, uncertainty in the transportation safety service’s reputation as a carrier. The heaviest cost is the human cost, which managers could have avoided if prioritised.
When it comes to the human cost in an accident, it’s not just the driver who’s affected. Other motorists and even pedestrians can also get affected if they’re in the vicinity. In some cases, the other driver is affected if the incident is vehicle-on-vehicle in nature.
In this article, we list ways in which fleet managers can implement better driver safety practices. Read on below to learn more.
Fleet Managers Guide to Driver Safety
Fleet managers are responsible for managing the operations of transit services, and safety must always be a top priority. It’s not just the fleet drivers either, because operators should also protect it.
Driver safety involves two components:
- Driver training to ensure proper vehicle operation;
- Vehicle maintenance so drivers won’t be in fleet accidents beyond their control (such as brake failure or tyre blowouts)
Fleet tracking software is also a safety measure because electronic logging devices (ELDs) will monitor driving hours. The fleet manager will also ensure that vehicle operators aren’t tired to avoid fleet accidents from being behind the wheel.
Training Your Fleet Drivers
When managing a fleet, training drivers is always a must. When you have trained drivers in the streets, you can rest easy knowing that they won’t get into an accident because of their training. It’s not just your drivers who are protected, but your business as well.
Furthermore, conducting driver safety training in your workplace would suit how many times you desire. However, the ideal time is every two to three months so that their work ethic won’t go out of your drivers’ minds so soon.
Fleet Managers Have an Open Line of Communication
Safety training shouldn’t just happen during training sessions but at all times. Fleet managers are responsible for communicating safety practices to every driver in the company.
The ideal way to do this is to conduct meetings between you and drivers. You can also make it a one-on-one engagement so drivers may comprehend information better.
To make things easier, you can provide them with digital resources to access them more effortlessly—or give them hard copies to keep in their cars. It’s best to supply drivers with information so they can understand it better.
Also Read: Why You Should Keep an Electronic Work Diary (EWD)?
Keep Vehicles Well-Maintained
Fleet managers have to check the vehicles before they send them out to the streets. Over 85 per cent of vehicle defects are also detected during this check, meaning a simple vehicle inspection goes a long way.
Fleet managers must also conduct inspections regularly because vehicle failure always leads to truck accidents, making your business liable.
Have an Accident Review Group
As much as drivers try to avoid truck accidents, some incidents aren’t unavoidable. Fleet managers should always prepare for the worst, and having an accident review group for your business lets you evaluate the gravity of a situation.
Here are some tips to take note of:
- Review the accident and determine if your company will be liable or not
- Review the accident if there are driver errors from your driver’s side and set them up for a post-incident meeting
- Have a risk management program to minimise and avoid fleet accidents in the future
Use Technology to Record Everything
Technological innovations such as the dashcam are an excellent way to keep drivers safe because they allow fleet managers to determine if their driver is at fault for an accident or not. You can also utilise it to provide feedback to drivers on their decorum while on the road.
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Role of Fleet Managers in Ensuring Road Safety
Driver safety goes a long way in protecting everyone on the road—not just your driver but other people as well. As much as possible, fleet managers should try to implement the measures mentioned above to ensure safety and minimise truck accidents.
Manage Vehicle provides solutions for fleet management regulations through software loaded with various features to ensure up-to-standard driver monitoring in Australia.
Fleet managers must always observe safety, and our software will achieve that step. Get quotes for our specialised fleet tracking software today!
