ATR Fleet Driver Training

For most people, driving is one of the most dangerous daily activities they undertake; practical Driver Training courses will greatly reduce that danger.

Most companies spend a significant amount of money on training their staff, from sales techniques to customer service, yet company drivers are often entrusted with an expensive asset with absolutely no training beyond that received to pass their basic driving test, often many years before. It is essential for fleet managers to consider the benefits of road safety training. As well as laying down risk management policies, they should be implementing proficiency testing and assessments for all drivers, and this is where we can help.

Corporate Manslaughter and Work-Related Road Safety

With the Corporate Manslaughter Act implemented on 6^th April 2008, you will undoubtedly already be looking at ways to ensure good health & safety practice within your organisation. This includes work-related road safety and under the provision of the Act, employers will be legally liable for road accidents caused by their employees whilst driving for work. According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), up to one third of all road traffic accidents involve people driving for work.

Driving for work does not only involve company car drivers. Non-company car or cash-opt out drivers may also drive regularly on business and need to conform to the same legislative rulings as fleet drivers.

The Training

We can offer a driver training course for your company drivers including a short presentation to outline the need for driver training and raising the key issues of road traffic accident statistics, risk factors, the importance of regular vehicle checks, management of space and time, and various driving environments. A practical vehicle check, driving licence and eyesight check will be conducted before commencing on-the-road training. Each delegate will then take a turn behind the wheel and the trainer will assess their driving and give a demonstration drive with a commentary to suit the training requirements, incorporating the principles of a ‘systematic approach’ to driving. Each delegate will receive helpful advice aimed at improving observation, attention and planning.

The Cost

The course is usually delivered at a ratio of two delegates to a vehicle for the practical element. You will be required to provide a fully insured and road-worthy vehicle with fuel for use during the practical training, and a room or space for the presentation. The day usually starts at 9.00am and finishes at 3.00pm but this can be adjusted to suit your needs.

The course is charged per vehicle at a rate of

£195.00 per day^*

The Benefits of Driver Training

Drivers and vehicles are valuable and vital assets to most companies, but the costs of maintaining and managing them are high. The true costs of accidents to organisations are nearly always higher than just the costs of repairs and insurance claims. The consequences of an accident on the self-employed and small businesses are likely to be proportionately greater than on a larger business with greater resources. However, the benefits from managing work-related road safety could be considerable, no matter the size of your business.

	Less staff time lost due to accidents and injury
	Reduced risk of work-related ill health
	Less lost time due to work rescheduling
	Reduced stress and improved morale
	Lower fleet administration costs
	Fewer vehicles off the road for repairs
	Reduced vehicle fuel consumption and lower maintenance costs through better driving standards
	Less chance of key employees being banned from driving, e.g. as a result of points on their licence
	Lower insurance premiums
	Improved company image

Promoting sound health and safety driving practices and a good safety culture at work may well spill over into private driving, which could in turn reduce the chances of staff being injured or lost in a crash outside work.

Companies that take action to promote the safety of their staff while driving can reduce accident costs, make efficiency saving, improve their image (a company’s drivers are its ambassadors on the road!) and make a significant contribution to meeting UK road safety targets.

Facts and Figures

On average over 3,000 people are killed on British roads each year (Source: ONS). Between 25-30% of these fatalities are work-related (Source: RoSPA).

Many incidents happen due to inattention and distraction as well as failure to observe the Highway Code. 95% of all accidents are attributable to human error alone (Source: RoSPA). As an employer, you need to consider what steps you should take to ensure that your employees use the road as safely as possible.

It is important that fleet managers and decision-makers keep abreast of new legislation and regulations since new developments can greatly affect the day-to-day operation of your fleet. Under Health and Safety law employers have a Duty of Care to ensure that both employees and others are not put at risk by work-related driving activities.

The new Road Safety Bill is part of the Government's commitment to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on roads by 40% by 2010.

2006 road casualty figures: (Source: Department for Transport/ONS, 28/6/07)

3,172 people were KILLED in road accidents, including 1,612 CAR USERS and 599 MOTORCYCLE USERS

28,673 people were SERIOUSLY INJURED in road accidents, including 12,642 CAR USERS and 5,885 MOTORCYCLE USERS

A total 258,404 ROAD CASUALTIES in 2006, including 171,000 CAR USERS and 23,326 MOTORCYCLE USERS

For more information about the Corporate Manslaughter Act, visit the Health & Safety Executive website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/corpmanslaughter/index.htm

*If you are unable to provide a vehicle for the practical training, this can be provided at an additional cost