It is very apt to say “Prevention is better than cure” and to operate any business, especially a fleet management solution business efficiently, safety plays the most crucial role in it, especially when it comes to fleet safety as it is of utmost importance for any business that operates on a fleet of vehicles, from delivery trucks to personal vehicles that may be used for work purposes. Road accidents not only cause damage to the property or business but it also poses a threat to the well-being and safety of the drivers and general public. The safety of both the vehicle and the driver is important, and thus, it is crucial to take the necessary preventive measures to prevent any accident! To maximize fleet safety, here are some best practices and strategies that can be used to prevent your business from such mishaps:
Pre-employment Screening:
Before recruiting any driver for your vehicle make sure to closely examine the driver’s record for any recent violations or involvement in any crashes. This may count as the most effective method to ensure fleet safety. The employees should research and conduct background checks to ensure clean driving records with no history of drug or alcohol abuse. Additionally, criminal convictions related to driving offences should also be checked.
Driver Training:
Training the driver and educating not only about the rules of the road but to apply defensive driving techniques, knowledge of vehicle maintenance in case of an emergency, and dealing with the worst weather conditions has always proven to be the most effective way to prevent any accident and to maximize the fleet safety.
Driver training should not only be done during the hiring process but employers should also consider providing regular training to ensure the drivers are up to date with the latest technologies and driving techniques. The training can be done daily/ weekly/ monthly via online instruction as well!
Incentivize safe driving:
Incentives are always the best way to push your employees to give their best. To make sure the safety of your fleet and drivers incentivizing their driving behaviour will make the drivers comply with safe driving practices. Incentives can be credited weekly and monthly for the motivation of best driving behaviour.
Regular Vehicle Inspections:
Regularly maintaining and inspecting the fleet vehicles is very crucial for the well-being of the driver and a safe operation. Ensuring the good working order of a vehicle and free from any defects or mechanical issues can prevent accidents. Therefore, conducting regular inspections of tire pressure, lights, brake systems, and other essential components is necessary before and after each trip, and any issues should be addressed immediately.
Telematics and Safety Technology:
A good tracking system to monitor the performance of their fleet vehicles and drivers is the best bet for employers to invest in and these systems help the employer by providing real-time information on vehicle, location, and driving behaviour, to help the employer identify unsafe driving practices of the driver.
Tracking devices are not the only technology installing backup cameras, lane departure warnings and collision avoidance systems can also help drivers by alerting them to any potential hazards that may cause accidents.
Regular Driver Monitoring and Feedback:
Telematics and vehicle tracking system, surely help the employer with good knowledge of what is happening on the roads but in addition to this implementing driver monitoring systems can also detect unsafe driving practices like excessive speeding, harsh braking and other behaviours. To detect such behaviours and to train drivers with correct driving practices to prevent any accidents driver monitoring can be extremely helpful.
Driver Safety Policies:
The most essential component of any safety program is the safety of the driver and maintaining these safety policies can play a positive role such as mandatory use of a seatbelt, avoiding distracted driving, and no use of drugs and alcohol. To make sure that the drivers do not violate these policies the employers should mandate and if not followed the drivers should face consequences like termination or disciplinary action.
Driver Fatigue:
Proper rest and regular sleep are extremely crucial for a driver to avoid any accidents. Employees should prepare organised driver shifts which are to be compliant and realistic with adequate resting times, also the drivers should be encouraged to report any signs of fatigue.
Fleet safety is crucial for any business to work without any disruptions and to minimize the risk of accidents, implementing the best practices and strategies to prevent accidents will ultimately save money on insurance costs and vehicle repairs. We understand that the Fleet is the soul of any business and for the best user experience along with improving the overall efficiency and profitability of your company bring the AIS 140 GPS tracker and live carefree.