The Reality of Driving Risks

Driving is a high risk occupational activity where peoples’ lives are at stake. It takes place in a dangerous environment over which the driver and Company have little control. The statistics speak for themselves:

• On average, ten people are killed on our roads every day;
• Ten times this figure are seriously injured;
• 30% of all fatalities and injuries are work related;
• 66% of all company cars are the subject of an insurance claim each year;
• 70% of drivers chosen at random would not pass their driving test without further training;
• Over 70% of incidents/accidents are never reported;
• Less than 10% of all occupational drivers receive further training after passing their driving test;

Drivers are entrusted with an expensive asset without any training in its use, or their competence being assessed, yet are expected to drive safely.

• Most competence is required where the greatest risk occurs.
• Without periodically assessing the competence of your drivers you do not know the level of driving risk that your company is exposed to.

You may have drivers who are too dangerous to be on the road and have been lucky so far. How do you know?

The Risks of Doing Nothing!

Where driver competence is not controlled, there is an increased risk of:

• Incidents, accidents, their related problems and costs;
• Higher insurance premiums, or alternatively reduced cover or increased excess;
• Financial penalties levied on driver and company;
• The absence of key personnel and expertise;

This can lead to loss of contracts/orders, adverse ‘bottom line’ performance, poor corporate image and criminal prosecution.