FLEET safety is a chief priority for fleet managers. But managing a fleet and ensuring drivers are safe isn’t as easy as it sounds.

To form a well-maintained and safe fleet, you need well-defined fleet safety policies in place to prevent future accidents.

You will need to enforce your fleet safety policies to ensure that your drivers are well informed of the rules to keep themselves and other road users safe.

It’s also important to create a clear communication plan so all drivers are aware of what policies are in place and have full buy-in from upper management to encourage drivers to adhere to the fleet safety rules.

Here are six steps provided by fleet van insurance brokers, Bluedrop Services, to help enforce your fleet safety policies

  1. Get buy-in from colleagues and senior management

To enforce the fleet safety policy, you will need buy-in from senior management. Most policies aren’t effective unless upper management is spreading the message and actively encouraging other employees to stick to company policies.

The policies will need to show senior management how and why these rules will positively impact the safety of drivers and what is needed to achieve the level of health and safety all fleets should exhibit.

Once your senior managers are on board – they will be able to set an example of the standards expected by all staff.

  1. Provide driver training

You must communicate clearly what is expected of drivers and this can be done by including the fleet safety policies during induction. Training should be made easy to access throughout employment.

You should also refer to the safety policy during regular training. Driver training will highlight safety concerns and encourage your employees to be safe and responsible on the roads to avoid accidents. It should address behavioural issues and seek to break any bad habits that have formed out of laziness.

Your fleet’s driver training can be arranged online or via face-to-face group sessions. This is all dependent on the training providers facilities and whether the training can be undertaken with the COVID-19 restrictions.

  1. Vehicle inspections

It is important that your fleet safety policies should include routine vehicle maintenance checks to prevent breakdowns. Regularly checking vehicles for damages and repairs will help to cut costs in the long run and helps to avoid long-term vehicle downtime, which can cost the business even more money. It’s good practice for drivers to check that their vehicles are safe.

Vehicles should be checked regularly for:

    • Tyre pressure
    • Worn brakes
    • Water levels
    • Lights and many other safety elements

Other than regular checks on the above, the vehicles provided to drivers will need routine servicing to prevent and pre-establish any future wear and tear, tackling the problem be

  • Oil levelsfore it creates further damage.
  1. Technology

Utilising telematics tools to track driver routines and behaviours will help to ensure fleet safety and productivity. You can even install dashboard cameras to record driver activities and have a record of any accidents to help with fleet insurance claims.

All of these technologies help with fleet management but also help monitor the safety of your fleet and catch bad driving habits or behaviours early before they create bigger problems. You can then use this data to review who needs further training or who should be rewarded for their safe driving.

  1. Rewards and recognition

With the use of telematics and other driving technologies, you’ll easily be able to monitor poor and good driving behaviours. Instead of punishing drivers who don’t drive effectively, incentivise those who make the effort and are driving not only safely, but sustainably too.

The fleet safety policy is in place to keep drivers safe and shouldn’t be seen as a tool to persecute them.

Set achievable and measurable targets to help improve fuel economy, prevent accidents and use of harsh acceleration and braking.

  1. Communication

If there are any changes to the fleet safety policies, then this needs to be addressed and communicated to all drivers clearly and concisely. Look at your business internal communication system and find out the best ways to communicate with your drivers so they know exactly what is expected of them.

These tips will help to ensure your fleet safety policies are effective and followed by all drivers. Keeping your fleet safe should be your number one priority and you should continue to monitor the policies and systems you have in place that keep your fleet drivers safe.

 

 

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