Are you reliant on fleet vehicles for the running of your business? We are talking about vans, lorries, and company cars, as just a few common examples.

If so, then you need to do all that is within your power to keep your fleet drivers safe on the roads. Not only is this your ethical duty – you wouldn’t want to see a fellow human being put their life in danger – but it makes business sense too, as you might incur a costly compensation claim and a bad reputation if a driver ended up in an accident when serving your business needs. 

So, what can you do to protect your drivers?

#1: Keep your vehicles well-maintained

If a driver comes to you with news of a potential vehicle fault, don’t then send them out on the roads and into the path of potential danger in the offending vehicle. Deal with the problem quickly, preferably with a phone call to your local garage if you don’t have the ability to problem solve vehicle issues yourself. And despite your efforts to save money on your company vehicles, do pay for them to be serviced regularly. This way, any potential or actual faults can be remedied, and your drivers’ time on the roads will be a safer one. 

#2: Invest in a dashcam

By fitting a fleet dash cam to your company vehicles, you will experience two benefits. Firstly, should an accident take place, you will have video evidence of who was to blame, be that your driver or another road user. And secondly, you will be able to monitor your driver’s behaviour. If you notice signs of distracted driving or any other type of risky behaviour, you will then have the evidence needed to confront your driver. You can then steer them in the right direction with advice or a warning (or a mixture of the two), and your driver should then have the knowhow to drive in a safer way when back out on the roads. 

#3: Pay for driver training

For starters, your drivers need to be licensed to drive the vehicles in your fleet. While you wouldn’t send somebody out without the capacity to drive at all, you should still ensure they have taken the advanced driving courses necessary to manage any larger vehicles your business uses. The DVLA will then license them accordingly. However, there are other reasons to invest in training. Many courses focus on the risks prevalent on today’s roads, so your drivers will be made aware of them. And on a financial level, know that you might see a drop in your insurance premiums when you can evidence proof of the training undertaken. Use this link to find fleet driver training courses in your area. 

#4: Use your common sense

If the weather is particularly bad outside, don’t send your drivers out onto the roads. We are thinking about heavy snowfalls and other wintry conditions, for example. And don’t give your drivers more work than they are able to accomplish, as they might only become tired when driving, or they might take risks to meet the deadlines you set. Use your common sense when managing your fleet drivers, as in the examples we have given, it’s a no-brainer to suggest logic needs to be followed. 

Final word

Should you keep your fleet drivers safe, you keep other road users safe too. You will also protect the financial and reputational side of your business. Follow our suggestions then, and consider other ways in which you might put safety first with regards to your employees.