Building a Fleet Driver Safety Program

For a fleet, nothing is more important than driver safety.

A driver safety program equips your team to avoid dangerous issues and accidents on the road. It also ensures that the people traveling near your vehicles are safe as well.

These tips will help you develop a driver safety program that protects your drivers and company from road-related incidents.

How to create a fleet driver safety program

1. Implement a telematics solution

If your drivers aren’t following your policies, even the best safety program will fail. Telematics devices allow you to see how drivers act on the road. You can monitor behaviors such as:

• Speeding
• Harsh cornering
• Harsh braking
• Using cell phones
• And more

When you have a record of how each employee drives, you can identify areas for improvement. Using a device that includes in-cab video or coaching can be even more beneficial. A study by the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, for instance, found that using a video telematics device with driver coaching and feedback reduced safety-related incidents by 52%.

2. Create safety rules

One person’s understanding of safe driving is different from another’s. Develop specific guidelines for how you expect drivers to behave. These rules should be targeted toward your overall safety goals. These objectives might include fewer accidents, a reduction in phone use, or more consistent safe speeds.

3. Train your drivers

Once you have your rules, make sure your drivers understand your expectations and intent. Remind your team that these policies are made for their safety, helping protect them from accidents and injuries. 

In addition to adding them to your employee handbook and rules, hold training sessions to go over these guidelines in detail. Get driver feedback to make sure you achieve the goals you’re aiming for. You can also offer additional sessions or resources throughout the year to refresh the information.

4. Track your results

Tracking your progress will help you meet goals, but it can also show gaps in your policies. Keep an eye on each driver’s results to measure your training program’s effectiveness. If you see that someone is struggling, adjust your driver coaching or pair them with a safer driver for a time.

You can also gamify your safety program to encourage participation. Offer prizes for drivers who have the best driving scores. You can also promote these drivers as a resource for those who are struggling.

Equipping your fleet with a telematics solution is the first step toward driver safety. See how we can help your fleet with our GPS installs today.