Driver behaviour is the series of actions performed by drivers when operating vehicles. Many factors have a direct impact on the way vehicles are driven by your team: experience, age, fatigue and driving conditions are just some of them. In turn, driver behaviour has repercussions on the vehicle, its fuel or energy consumption, wear and tear, and the overall safety of both the driver and other road users. For those tasked with managing vehicles or drivers, understanding that driving style is a key metric affecting global costs and carbon footprint is paramount.
The profession and driver engagement in the workplace
Drivers have a risky job with increasingly strict deadlines that they have to meet while complying with safety regulation and the highway code. Despite being essential, drivers are an often-underestimated component of the transport equation with a demanding workload. While driver conditions seem to have improved in the last years with the introduction of new regulations, Europe is experiencing one of the most serious shortages of these essential workers. Consequently, driver engagement has now become more important than ever.
Involving and retaining drivers through driving style education
Motivating and educating drivers can help your company reap all the benefits of eco-driving while retaining top talent. Recognising the importance of drivers, involving them in daily activities beyond driving, providing comprehensive driver training and implementing rewarding initiatives with the help of gamification will work as a way of fostering efficient and safe driving and create a safety culture within the workplace.
How and when can I provide driver training?
While driver training may be necessary in response to new legislation, there are opportune moments to organise it. Training a new hire will help you make sure your driver is off to a great start; providing training after a collision or a major safety event, be it in the news or within your fleet, helps addressing potential issues and avoiding them in the future; running short courses after new vehicles are procured or new technology is installed help you promote a safe and wise use of them; and ongoing training initiatives will make the driving team feel involved and motivated.
How do I know what are the pain points of my crew?
Driver behaviour and telematics data allows to detect erratic patterns and measure the number of dangerous driving style events. Speeding, rapid acceleration, harsh cornering, hard braking and idling are some of the worst driving practices that can be eliminated with driver education. What is more, the integration of AI systems with advanced driver assistance and driver status monitoring contributes significantly to creating a safer and more content group of drivers.
Understanding, monitoring, and actively addressing driver behaviour is not only a fundamental aspect of responsible fleet management but also a strategic move. If you need help with that, let us know.
