Road safety charity Brake has recently issued several advice sheets for fleet managers.
Using technology to manage road risk
Vehicle technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and there are an increasing number of systems available that aim to improve vehicle and driver safety. While technology offers many benefits, it can also present challenges to fleet managers; however, with careful choice and effective integration with a wider risk management strategy, vehicle technology can help managers to reduce risk across fleets.
Driver mental health and wellbeing
The working environment in the transport industry has a strong impact on the mental health and wellbeing of professional drivers. Drivers who suffer from stress, depression or other mental health problems are more likely to be involved in a crash or other incident that risks harming themself, other people and the business. By looking after their employees’ wellbeing, fleets can prove that they are caring, compassionate employers who put people first and value their safety.
Safe systems for fleet managers
Safe systems are a shared approach to road safety to prevent death and serious injury from road crashes. The safe system approach to road safety was first developed in Sweden’s Vision Zero strategy but is now used in countries around the world.
Incident reporting and investigation
Incident reporting and investigation is critical for all fleets. Any road incident, no matter how serious, presents an opportunity to learn about why crashes happen and put in place measures to prevent them from happening again. Failing to report or investigate collisions and near-misses means missing a chance to improve safety for drivers and other road users.
Driver fatigue
Fatigue is a major cause of road crashes and people involved in transport operations are especially vulnerable to its effects. Stress, high workloads and long hours all contribute to high levels of fatigue among professional drivers. Organisations that employ people who drive for work should have effective policies and procedures to manage the risks associated with driver fatigue, and ensure they adhere to these in their day-to-day operations.
Click here to access this safety advice for fleet managers
Webinar: Who is responsible for driver risk management?
This webinar takes place on Thursday 25 February from 14:00 – 15:00 GMT. Learn: How responsibility can vary, and potentially be unclear, why safety is everyone’s responsibility;
Methods of ensuring a consistent, integrated approach, the importance of leadership commitment, how COVID-19 has further expanded the scope of driver risk management, and techniques to maintain employee engagement.
This eBook will guide you through some of the key understandings you need to be able to manage driver safety effectively and, at the end, provide a series of free resources you can access to help you ensure your own driver safety management system is robust, legally compliant and in line with industry-accepted good practice.
Download this eBook from Driving for Better Business and SHP to cover:
- Why do we need to manage driver safety?
- Duty of care – a shared responsibility;
- Setting the rules with a driving for work policy;
- Managing driver safety;
- Ensuring safe vehicles;
- Safe journeys and fitness to drive;
- Record keeping;
- Reporting;
- The business benefits of good practice;
- Additional resources
