Fleet driver training ‘shouldn’t be a tick box exercise’

14.21 | 15 September 2020 | | 2 comments

A leading fleet training organisation is calling on passenger transport operators to ensure they have regular, effective professional driver training in place for drivers.

RED Driver Risk Management made the call on the back of a number of high-profile incidents, the most recent of which saw pupils seriously injured when a school bus was involved in a collision at Winchester in Hampshire.

RED says fleet operators need to implement better training policies, reducing the reliance on popular ‘tick-box’ telematics and e-learning – warning that a lack of training in person often leads to poorly equipped drivers.

Andy Neale, head of RED’s risk management division, said: “You can’t just be a passenger and expect professional drivers to keep up to the high standards required without the correct training regime in place.  

“And you can’t just rely on e-learning systems to provide the level of training needed; drivers are not computers, and this shouldn’t be a tick box exercise when lives are at stake.”

RED adds that the Covid-19 pandemic has placed increased pressures on professional and commercial drivers, whether delivering online shopping or driving school buses. 

Mr Neale added: “It is essential the appropriate, tailored training is put in place by all companies and fleet operators. 

“Not only does it help ensure the safety of all other road users, passengers and drivers, but it also massively reduces the running costs of fleets, decreases stress levels and improves employee well-being.”


 

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    For clarification, Andy Neale’s comments said that personal training is paramount, but that e-learning can then be used to support this training.
    To be crystal clear, RED does not dismiss the role of e-learning, we see it as part of the mix, but that it shouldn’t be used as a stand-alone simple “perceived fix” to a wider training problem.


    Andy MItchell, GUILDFORD
    Agree (0) | Disagree (0)
    0

    Interesting to note the opening line of the article is “Fleet driver training ‘shouldn’t be a tick box exercise” and the Head of Red Risk Management Andy Neal states “And you can’t just rely on e-learning systems to provide the level of training needed; drivers are not computers, and this shouldn’t be a tick box exercise when lives are at stake.”

    Yet a quick visit to their web site on the opening page, with their WHAT RED FLEET DRIVER TRAINING CAN DO FOR YOUR COMPANY, lists practical on-road driver training as the last bullet point of the service they offer below a full list of the benefits of e-learning.

    If an organisation is going to publicly proclaim that online driver training can not be relied upon, why does their website not reflect their article.

    Or is it a case that like many driver training organisations they have been hit by loss of business and trying to get their name back out there and pick up business.


    Keith
    Agree (6) | Disagree (2)
    +4

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