You don’t have to run a freight company to understand the importance of being able to drive, and to drive well at that. Driving is akin to communication; it is the vital link between communities and deliveries, interviews and interviewees, and a way to speed precious objects from source to destination.
However, even though you might request that employees have an up-to-date driving license, it’s imperative that their driving skills are top notch. Imagine the embarrassment if a van with your company’s name on it was stopped by the police, or you lost half your stock because of a spillage on the M25?
Investing in your staff’s driving skills is especially important if you live somewhere with terrible weather or along roads with tricky twists and turns. Another thing to bear in mind is how you can actually save money by driving more carefully. Being a careful driver can help you to reduce your fuel costs.
So how do you make sure that your staff are driving in the safest way they can be, and that they are managing to conserve fuel costs at the same time? Try these tips and tricks:
Do a refresher driving course
Many driving schools offer refresher courses aimed at people who used to drive but don’t feel confident on the roads anymore. These refresher courses are also useful for people who learnt to drive in the countryside but now need to navigate large, busy cities with multiple junctions and lanes. David Richards, AA DriveTech director, says: “Being able to drive is vital to many people who are self-employed and who run small businesses.
“The ability to get about independently can help secure new clients as well as move goods and deliver services. Everyone who drives as part of their job can help improve their business’s bottom-line by driving as fuel-efficiently and safely as possible; savings will be made on fuel and also on insurance claims premiums and time-off after accidents. Driving is likely to be the riskiest part of any job, so it makes sense to try and mitigate that risk through better training. Just a few hours with a specialist driving coach can improve a driver’s ability to keep themselves safe on the road.”
And refresher driving courses don’t have to take ages to complete either. Sometimes just doing a single lesson will give you or your employees the confidence to get back in the car and driving. The Institute of Advanced Motoring also runs courses including assessment for mature drivers.
Learn how to make your fuel go further
Many small businesses have a tight budget, and want to ensure their expenses go as far as possible. By signing up to an institution or course, you or your employees can learn how to save fuel costs when you’re driving, ideal for small businesses who don’t have an unlimited pot of cash for driving expenses. A new driver training centre that simulates adverse weather conditions has opened, at Tadea Effective Transport Solutions. But Tadea also run courses on how to make your driving more cost-effective, sustainable and green. Based in the north of England, they provide tailored, comprehensive driver training packages to meet the demands of any organisations vehicles on the roads. According to their website, he point of these fuel saving sessions is: “Simulated driver training can lead to a reduction of over 10% in fuel costs – savings which quickly cover any training expenditure and which keep saving your business money for years into the future.”
Driving in adverse weather
Tadea’s new adverse weather system is designed to throw whatever it can at drivers wanting to be challenged. The packages that can be purchased include driving in simulators, which “put drivers through their paces with ice, snow, wind, and thick fog all in one session.” Tadea Effective Transport Solutions also points out on their website that: “Health and Safety law requires employers and the self employed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees and to safeguard others who may be put at risk from their work activities - including work-related driving activities.” The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 covers “any statutory provision dealing with health and safety matters”, and includes “transport as enforced by the HSE and local authorities.”
Join a forum or a group
The Institute of Advanced motorists is an excellent place to start if you or your colleagues are regular drivers or you drive for work. According to the IAM: “These groups, all run by volunteers, represent a unique resource with unparalleled experience and expertise to share with road users. In addition, they provide a forum where members can share ideas and contribute to the IAM s important work in developing and promoting innovative road safety strategies.”
Why you should invest?
The happiest and most motivated staff are those who feel that they are being listened to at work, and also that their skills are being broadened. By investing in your employees’ driving, not only will you ensure that your employees learn to drive more safely in the roads, save on fuel costs, and learn to cope with adverse weather, but your staff will feel more motivated and committed to their work, and to driving well.
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