Advanced Driving Lessons: Why Your Fleet Drivers Need More Than Just Lessons

Fleet management is all about maintaining safety. Without rules put in place, it could affect everything from the safe delivery of goods to the health of your vehicles and the well-being of your drivers.

To combat the rising risks associated with risky driving behaviour, fleet managers are looking towards advanced driving lessons for their fleet.

Let's unpack how these lessons can impact driver safety.

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In this article, you will:

• See the importance of advanced driving lessons for fleet drivers

• Understand the risks associated with risky driving behaviours

• Learn about the benefits of advanced driving training

• Discover how Cartrack solutions enhance driver safety

• Get insights into frequently asked questions about advanced driving

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Introduction to driver safety and risky driving behaviour

Sometimes, the pressure to meet deadlines and manage workloads can lead to a focus on efficiency over safety. This mindset might compel drivers to take risks and compromise their safety on the road, resulting in incidents.

It’s well known that unsafe driving habits cause most road accidents or incidents that might lead to fatalities or injuries to drivers and bystanders. According to The South African Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), the country has more than 4,600 fatal crashes involving freight vehicles.

The risk of accidents is greater when the vehicles are big trucks that can do twice the damage as smaller commercial ones, and many businesses can’t bear the outcome of accidents or incidents caused by risky driving behaviour such as:

• Increased operational costs due to accidents and vehicle downtime
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• Additional expenses for renting vehicles to maintain operations
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• Costs associated with vehicle maintenance, repairs, or vehicle replacements
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• Medical expenses for injured drivers
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• Higher insurance rates due to increased risk
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• Potential property damage costs

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Drivers’ behaviour on the road greatly impacts a business’s finances, reputation, and customer relationships. So, when signs of risky driving behaviour, such as speeding past road limits or vehicle set limits, harsh cornering, abrupt braking, frequent idling, or generally not using turn signals when changing lanes, start to show, fleet managers have to give their drivers the proper tools to ensure they stay safe on the road, complete trips without issues or incidents, deliver packages without damage, and ensure the vehicle they operate is treated with care. 

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Advanced driving lessons explained

Now that we’ve discussed why driver safety is needed, let’s get into the solution: driver training lessons that go beyond regular driver training.

These do a good job of reteaching drivers to not only drive from one place to another but to do it safely, following the rules of the road, driving within the set road and vehicle speed limit, using turn signals to switch lanes, not getting distracted and more.

Advanced driving lessons can take licensed drivers’ skills to the next level, teaching them safe, fuel-efficient practices such as:

1. Vehicle control: 

This means properly handling a vehicle while driving it. This skill is important when operating heavy goods vehicles that must be safely driven to ensure that other vehicles are not affected. This includes smooth acceleration, braking, and controlled steering. 

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2. Observation: 

Avoid distractions and be aware of your surroundings while driving. This includes anticipating risks, being aware of other vehicles on the road, monitoring traffic conditions, and identifying escape routes in case of emergencies like attempted hijackings.

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3. Managing speeding: 

Drivers learn to adjust speed accordingly based on the vehicle type. road conditions and traffic, so there’s no strain on the vehicle or sudden speeding. Most fleet trucks or vans come with a set vehicle speeding limit that drivers have to obey. Advanced driving lessons assist in getting used to constantly driving at 60 km/h or 80 km/h.

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4. Space awareness:

Do you know your vehicle size and how much space it takes on the road? Drivers need to leave enough distance between their vehicles and those around them so they have enough reaction time to slow down or hit the brakes if an incident occurs. This helps with changing lanes, overtaking, turning at traffic stops and parking the vehicle.

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5. Fuel-efficient driving:
Practising safe driving habits like smooth acceleration, coasting, and minimal idling to reduce fuel consumption. This not only assists in making fuel last and improving fuel consumption rates, but it also keeps the vehicle healthy and less prone to vehicle breakdowns.

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After these skills have been practised and theoretically tested, successful drivers receive a badge of honour in the form of a certificate as proof of their advanced driving knowledge and commitment to safety. Drivers can present their certificate to their insurance company and potentially reduce their premiums.
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What makes advanced driving courses different?‍

The difference is in the details. Advanced driving courses provide a better understanding of your vehicle, how to handle it in various situations, and how to prioritise safety on the road. 

It teaches drivers skills that aren't normally taught. Besides considering efficient driving and safety, there's also information on how to properly operate vehicles in different weather conditions, like driving in heavy rain with slippery roads or on foggy mornings with less visibility, and in emergency situations like reacting to the vehicle ahead suddenly braking at a high speed.

It's a more practical approach to driver safety than one based on encouragement and incentives.
 

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Going beyond your advanced driving lessons to promote safety and save lives with Cartrack 

After your drivers have taken advanced driver lessons, you need a fleet management platform to ensure driver safety and further manage their progress. Look no further than Cartrack, an industry-leading fleet management and vehicle safety company that thrives on improving driver safety and optimising operations.
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Here’s how our features can help you:
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1. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) + Smart Cameras with In-Cabin Audio
Our advanced cameras show a clear view of the driver's behaviour, recording events such as distracted driving, yawning, driving while using a mobile device, and more, while offering two-way communication directly to the cabin to advise on correcting driving behaviour for real-time management to improve driver safety.
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2. Driver Scorecards + Risk Report
Our scorecards provide a clear and concise overview of each driver's driving performance. This, coupled with our risk reports that indicate risky driving behaviour such as harsh speeding, cornering and braking, shows areas of improvement that managers can improve in advanced driver training.

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Cartrack is there when the unexpected happens

Cartrack Solutions doesn’t only manage vehicles and safeguard them against threats; we protect them as well as the drivers inside. 
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Take a moment and watch Zothile Ngcobo's heartfelt story about how Cartrack saved her life after her vehicle was involved in a terrible accident due to a collision with a truck.

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Take your fleet’s driving skills to the next level

Cartrack technology can enhance and simplify driver safety and the learning experience by providing real-time feedback to both managers and drivers. Our solutions help managers efficiently monitor and analyse driving behaviour, providing real-time insights to improve performance and save lives.
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For safer, more confident driving on any road, contact Cartrack and receive a free quote from our team.

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Advanced driving lessons FAQs

We've provided a lot of information for managers and fleet owners, but what about the drivers? As a driver, you may have some questions about advanced driving lessons and how they can affect you. Read on for answers to your burning questions.

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Q1. What is the difference between advanced driving and defensive driving?‍

Advanced driving refers to driving focused on safety and proficiency. It emphasises proactive techniques to anticipate and properly respond to potential road incidents.

Defensive driving focuses more on driving, particularly on minimising the risk of accidents. Drivers anticipate the movements of the vehicles around them. They practise maintaining safe distances and being prepared to react to any potential hazards that might occur.

So what's the difference? 

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Q2. What are the benefits of advanced driving?

Driving with safety in mind improves overall driving skills, enhances vehicle control, reduces risks, saves costs and increases road condition awareness. 

Advanced driving also emphasises eco-friendly driving practices that save on fuel, reduce wear and tear, decrease vehicle maintenance needs and costs and might potentially lower insurance premiums as well.

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Q3. Do you get a certificate for advanced driving?

This depends on where your drivers received the advanced driving lessons, but reputable groups, such as BMW Driving Experience and Toyota Advanced Driving Academy, do provide a certificate upon completion of the program

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Q4. How many lessons does the average driver need?

This depends on the driver's skill level and experience, but around 5-10 lessons might get the job done. However, bear in mind that you need to complete the whole course to be eligible for the advanced driving certificate they award upon completion.
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Reach peak safety with the help of Cartrack fleet management solutions. Use our safety features as your tools to elevate your driver's skills, sharpen their reflexes, and master advanced driving in training.

Visit www.cartrack.com.ph today.