Fleet and Corporate Driver Training

Companies are now taking their Health and Safety responsibilities seriously as to the risk of their drivers inline with the latest Corporate Manslaughter Act legislation. Click here for more information

Fleet Driver Training

Designed courses aimed at company car / van drivers with the objective in highlighting the risks associated with commercial driving.

The course includes a presentation by the trainer, a driver risk assessment and coaching on defensive driving techniques. focusing on :-

Drivers Attitude & Behaviour
Defensive Driving Techniques
Incident Avoidance Scenarios
Highway Code Knowledge
A Written Report will be Given to each Driver at the Conclusion of the Practical Session

Benefits of Defensive Driver Training to the Employer and Employee:

Reduces the driving risk of a Road Taffic Incidents
Addresses Health & Safety requirements to the Occupational Road Risk
Reducing Stress Levels
Utilizing Increased Concentration, Observation and Anticipation Skills
Reduction Fuel Usage and Costs
Reduction of Vehicle Repairs
Understanding Vehicle Sympathy
Eco-Driving
Potential Benefit from Reduced Insurance Premiums

SAFED for Vans (Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving)

SAFED has been designed as a single day course aimed at improving the safe and fuel efficient driving techniques of van drivers.

A pilot scheme showed that improved driving skills can reduce fuel use by over 8% and reduce the number of gear changes by 50% reducing company fuel and maintenance costs.

Benefits for Drivers

Reduced Risk of Accidents Whilst Driving
Reduced Stress Levels
Increased Confidence in Vehicle Control and Driving Technique
Job Efficiency and Professionalism
Potential Financial Incentives

Benefit for Employers (Owner-Drivers and Fleet Operators)

Reduced Accidents
Less Vehicle Downtime
Reduced Fuel Costs / Running Costs / Maintenance Costs / Tyre Costs
Increased Productivity
Potential Insurance Premium Reductions
Reduced Environmental Impact

SAFED Case Study

A case study by the Department for Transport discusses the recent success of Witney School of Motoring Driver Training in helping their clients Cottsway Housing Oxfordshire. The study, Department for Transport (DfT) SAFED for Vans: Case Study for Cottsway Housing Oxfordshire, explores the cost savings achieved through professional driver training. The results are encouraging, and include a marked reduction of fuel consumption on the training day.

Cottsway benefits from professional driver training.

Cottsway, a housing association based in Witney, owns and manages over 3,600 properties within West Oxfordshire.

We have a fleet of 26 vans and our repairs team carries out around 2,000 repairs jobs each month. They do a total of about 260,000 miles a year and the total fuel cost for the year is over £43,000.

Martin Mullenger, a SAFED (Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving) trainer from the Witney School of Motoring, contacted us to discuss the possible cost savings and benefits that we could achieve through professional driver training.

We agreed to go ahead with training for all of our 26 operatives in early 2007 and Martin provided this. The training included a presentation, with information on the Highway Code, a demonstration drive by the operatives (with Martin on board) and a further demonstration drive by Martin, complete with running commentary. He then recommended two or three areas where the operatives could increase their skills and save money for the company by saving fuel. This also brought some obvious benefits for the environment.

Many of our drivers were sceptical about undertaking SAFED training, as they were already experienced van drivers. However, after completing the course, most of them were surprised at what they had learnt. This included reducing fuel consumption, reduced gear changes and improved driving.

“The professionalism of our staff is essential to ensure that our customers receive an efficient service. Undertaking SAFED for Vans training has enabled our staff to increase their range of skills, which will help them to continue to provide a professional service,” said James Thomson, Cottsway’s Head of Repairs.

Martin Mullenger BA (Hons) M.Inst.M.T.D. Dip DI
BA (Hons) in Driver Education, Diploma in Driving Instruction (Dip DI), DIAmond Advanced Instructor, Master Driver,
DSA ADI (C), DSA Fleet Registered Trainer, SAFED Registered Trainer, RoSPA (Gold) Advanced Driver.