Exeter Fleet Driver Assessment

I offer a comprehensive fleet assessment and training service designed to reduce business costs for companies employing a number of people who drive as a major part of their job. I have worked with companies across the south west of England.

The training is aimed specifically at reducing the risks to both your employees and your vehicles. Part of this involves identifing any risk factors in driving practices and helping your employees and you to recognise these risks. In addition to this, once we have identified any risks I can train your employees to reduce or eliminate the risk completely.

My fleet assessment courses are tailored to your company's individual requirements. For the best results, it is best that delegates use a vehicle that they are familiar with.

Overview of the assessment and course
The course that I run will cover:

• causes of road crashes and how to prevent them.
• how, as a driver, to improve concentration on the road and better observation.
• how to best use the space around the vehicle.
• the identifying dangers and threat on the road, especially from other road users.
• advanced planning of driving, anticipating issues and dangers, maintaining an awareness of speed and improving fuel economy.
• demonstrating daily safety checks to be carried out on vehicles to ensure that they are in fit shape to be taken onto the road.

Driver Assessment

Part of the assessment I carry out is to individually determine the risk level of your drivers. This is done using 'on the road' training, and I will produce an individual written report with recommendations of any what (if any) training should be conducted. An on road assessment session will be the best way to assess a driver, providing an accurate risk level.

The core of the training, will cover developing the principles and ideas of defensive driving. These skills are key to making drivers correctly observe and react to what is happening on the road. It also covers the principles of keeping the vehicle in absolute control. Ensuring that the position and speed being taken by the driver is safe suitable to the road and traffic conditions. These techniques also mean adapting to changing road conditions with plenty of time to spare. This has the fringe benefit of improving fuel economy.

Developing these skills requires building a positive and courteous attitude to other road users. In addition to this, we instill the concept of maintaining high levels of concentration, accurate observation, anticipating the changing road environment and controlling the space which is around the vehicle. We also teach drivers to plan ahead, using prediction and timing to be at the right position on the road, while travelling at the right speed.

Economy and Environment
An additional benefit of the defensive driving techniques which we teach is that drivers will drive in a more fuel efficient style as a matter of course. So without costing any time in journeys, you can save an average of 5% over the course of a year simply through using less fuel.

We also teach the driver to stay in tune with the vehicle, ensuring that it is in good mechanical shape. Well maintained vehicles are more efficient all round and the driver can be sure that the vehicle is road worthy. This saves you money as problems are detected early and can be dealt with the least expense, both in financial terms and in lost time.

So apart from saving you money, improving your company's environmental record and ensuring that you have a fleet of road worthy vehicles, you also end up with drivers who are less stressed and fatigued from being on the road.

Next steps

At the end of the on the road session I will write a full report for each participant. This is based on the individual performance and focuses on any areas which need improvement. I will recommend which participants need further training and in what areas. Copies of the Risk Assessment will also be supplied for your company records.

Course Format

• Theory
  This will be informal, with all of the delegates together. This is to get the delegates introduced to the concepts which we will cover and to have them thinking in the right way.
• Risk Assessment of each Delegate
  I take each delegate through an on the road assessment of their driving. This involves observing them during a thirty minute driving session. This takes in a variety of road conditions and situations.
• Coaching
  We will discuss any areas in which we feel the candidate can improve with them. This is done in a constructive manner and has the objective of improving the way ther drive.
• Final Assessment
  A comprehensive risk assessment will be drawn up for each delegate, which includes the grading of each driver based on the on the road session.
• Feedback
  All of the delegates will be explained the grade they have achieved in the assessment. A full written report is supplied, for both the delegates themselves as well as their company. The report will advise what areas, if any, need improvement through further coaching.