Driver training promotes safety

Driver training is an invaluable addition to any fleet manager’s repertoire of management tools. An effective program can not only lessen incidences of personal injury and asset damage, it also provides a valuable avenue for road rule re-education and current driving practice assessment.

For global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, safety is a number one priority. The company has a strong focus on ensuring the best practices are in place for all staff and recognises that safety extends beyond the office or factory and to those out on the road talking to customers.

At any one time, AstraZeneca Australia and New Zealand (AZ ANZ) can have up to 295 ‘tool-of-trade’ cars on the road. With a reported 83% of safety incidents attributed to driver-related incidents, the company recognised that driver safety was an area that had room for improvement.

As a result, AZ ANZ recently partnered with the NRMA, and its affiliates in the other states of Australia and New Zealand, to deliver a driver training program that is consistent and outcomes focused. The NRMA DriveSafe Pro training is now part of the company’s ‘Drive Success’ program, which is committed to creating a safe-driving culture at the company.

“We sought to provide a program that was specifically tailored to support the company ethos of ‘avoiding incidents through awareness of your environment’ and skills enhancement,” said AZ ANZ Corporate Services Manager Graham Welch.

“By working with experts in this area, our staff and specialist providers now have a program that seeks to reinforce driver awareness and positive behaviours which support a genuine culture of safety,” continues Welch, adding that it is a long-term commitment.

The NRMA DriveSafe Pro training has been designed to motivate employees to adopt low-risk driving behaviours, techniques and strategies as their normal driving practice. The training discusses the causes of common crashes and the driving behaviours that can reduce the incidence of these crashes. These behaviours include having a safe following distance from the car in front, planning the journey, backing in and driving out where possible, carefully choosing where to park, avoiding distractions, improving road rule knowledge and the correct driver set-up of the vehicle.

“The NRMA has been very flexible in delivering the driver training,” said AZ ANZ Safety, Health and Environment Associate Jennifer Woodrow. “The trainers spend two hours on the road with our drivers in their own car. They arrange to meet the drivers at convenient locations and the conversational approach puts the drivers at ease. Drivers receive honest, helpful feedback which is designed to improve their driving skills.”

AZA Sales Representative Damon O’Donahue said the NRMA driver training was well worth the exercise. “A reminder of the ‘three-second rule’ is always important [and] I have found the use of a correct seat and headrest positioning has made my driving a lot more comfortable and safer,” he said.

AZA Sales Manager John Avvenevole shares O’Donahue’s enthusiasm for the program. “Sharing statistics and the consequences of car incidents to the person and the company with my team has generated some very meaningful discussions.”