Driving Risk Assessment
Officially the most hazardous work activity your staff is exposed to is driving for work [source HSE]. Research demonstrates that the majority of companies neglect vehicle usage as a health and safety issue. All too often, driver risk assessment, if considered at all, finds itself at the lower end of the priority list.

Managing driver risk is an integral part of business risk strategy and raising the skill and performance levels of drivers through training and assessment can markedly reduce the frequency of and ideally eliminate costly accidents.

Resulting improvements to you business efficiency include:

• Improved public image, your logo on a vehicle say's a lot about your company.
• Fewer days lost due to injury, reduced risk of work-related ill health, reduced stress and improved morale
• Loss of productivity resulting from investigation and paperwork
• Fewer missed orders and business opportunities with reduced risk of loosing the goodwill of customers
• Elimination of legal costs resulting from criminal prosecution

Reduced cost of vehicle fleet operation:

• Reduced direct repair cost
• Reduced insurance costs
• Reduced fuel consumption
• Reduced tyre wear and other consumables
• Reduced vehicle downtime/hire car costs
• Improved vehicle residual value

Consider the public relations position of your company when one of your vehicles is, damaged or poorly driven, this will do little to inspire confidence, especially if they have the company name on them!

Changes to legislation will mean that by 1st April 2008 corporate manslaughter comes into effect adding to many other heath and safety laws.

Statistics
Driving on our roads is a dangerous activity. For the occupational driver covering average mileage there is a 1 in 250 chance of being killed in a road accident each year. Statistics from Government and Industry sources show that:

• Over 500,000 accidents, 300,000 casualties and 3,500 deaths occur each year on our roads.
• The cost of each road accident is a minimum of £2.8K and can be over £20K.
• The total cost of a fatal accident is in excess of £1 million.
• The average cost of 'bent metal' damage to a vehicle is at least £700.
• 65 % of all company cars are subject to an insurance claim each year.

By taking steps to reduce the amount of bent metal incurred by your working vehicles, and by implementing some form of Driver Risk Management programme, simply makes good business sense. Driver risk management is more than just implementing fleet driver training. Managing road risk is a vital element to proper fleet management and can reap significant financial rewards.

A risk assessment is nothing more than a careful examination of what work activities can cause harm to people. It helps you to weigh up whether you have done enough to ensure safe working practices or should more be done to prevent harm.

Elite's Driving Risk Assessment course has a dramatic effect on an individual's behaviour and attitude when driving; we aim to reduce road accidents through encouraging greater numbers of well-managed fleets and skilled drivers.

Elite, based on their 18 years experience in the driver training industry, can tailor a training course around your business needs, providing: Assessment of driving standards and the associated risks.
 

All companies employing drivers will have to show a "Duty of Care" towards them in providing suitable Driver Training. For most organisations, training is a major investment and like all investments should be subject to rigorous analysis to ensure money, time and effort is well spent.

Drivers who have undergone training have an increased understanding of risk and the driving environment in which they operate. They are more able to assess situations that lead to accidents and plan how best to avoid them. This leads to fewer accidents. Exposure to good driving practice raises awareness levels and enables trained drivers to recognise and make allowances for the shortcomings of other road users.

These are some of the benefits companies have reported who have invested in Fleet driver training.

• Immediate benefits were achieved - we saw a 95% drop in claims in the 10 months following training and a reduction in fuel consumption across the fleet
• Our accident costs have reduced from £16,500 per annum to £6,500 in the first year following training, and to £2,500 in the second year
• Virtually all of the 100 or so drivers that went through the half-day course have considered it highly worthwhile

The Course
Tuition designed to improve planning and hazard awareness, promote safe, economical driving and contribute to a safer working environment. The course will be carried out on a 1:1 or 2:1 basis.

Location
The start location for the fleet training can be the customers premises or at a mutually agreed location.

Requirements
We ask you to provide a suitable, roadworthy and fully insured vehicle and that the drivers must hold a valid current driving licence for the vehicle they will be driving.

Skills Covered:

• Vehicle safety checks
• Speed awareness
• Effective use of positioning
• Steering technique
• Appropriate gear selection
• Braking techniques including Anti Lock Brakes (ABS)
• Defensive vehicle positioning
• Effective use of mechanical and hand signals
• Safe separation distance
• Cornering techniques
• Awareness of Hazards and risks
• Safe and calculated overtaking
• Journey & route planning
• Driving in adverse weather conditions
• Conflict Prevention

The course is broken down into 4 sections:

Section 1:
The first part of the course allows our trainers to get to know the client, their current knowledge and check that their eye sight is within the required distance as well as checking that their details are correct as shown on their driving licence.

They will then be asked to complete a driving questionnaire allowing our trainers to see what their current theory knowledge is like and then onto a 2 hour driving assessment.

Section 2:
This section covers Defensive driving and advanced driving skills, taking into account safe and smooth driving skills, adapting to the road and traffic conditions in a safe and courteous manner, effective all round observations, anticipation and planning techniques, and understanding the dangers associated to pedestrians and cyclists.

Section 3:
This section covers eco-friendly and fuel efficient driving skills, mechanical sympathy to the vehicle, vehicle checks and the effects of weather conditions and driving.

Section 4:
This section is an evaluation of what the client has learned, our trainers will answer any questions or subject the client wishes to discuss. A full written report will be produced where risk areas are high lighted and if required, further training recommended. Copies of the Risk Assessments are provided for the manager responsible.

Cost:
Half day £140.00
Full Day £240.00
All prices are per person.

The start of the course involves an initial interview and driving assessment for each person, as detailed in section 1, the time taken to deliver this training is a half day session, from there each person is given a course structured to suit their needs, in a period of time required to deliver the training.

Please note Elite have over 12 driving instructors in the Hull area alone, we can arrange for a course of driving lessons for any employee who currently does not hold a full driving licence.