By Nick Butler, director, Drivetech
At Drivetech, the driver training arm of the AA, we believe that even one casualty on our roads is one too many. Responding to the news of the increase in road collisions by 20% in July, we know that a combination of robust enforcement and comprehensive education is essential to reducing fatal and serious injuries on the road.
Drivetech is committed to reducing road casualties by addressing the fatal four behaviours: speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, not wearing a seatbelt, and mobile phone use. Preventing these behaviours through education can be as critical as reinforcement. Education is the most powerful tool in changing driving behaviours and saving lives. We see its impact every day alongside our work with police forces and businesses UK-wide. Quite simply, training drivers to make safer choices and understand the profound impact of their actions, will significantly decrease road casualties and create safer communities.”
Drivetech has collated the following guidance to help businesses eradicate the fatal four behaviours from their fleets.
Speeding
Educate drivers on the dangers of speeding, including higher accident rates and reduced reaction times. Provide practical training on maintaining safe speeds and vehicle control in varying conditions. As a UK leader in the delivery of police-referred driver offender courses, at Drivetech we know that education with road safety and people safety at its core makes a huge difference to driver behaviour. We regularly and passionately measure our driver training, using Net Promoter Scores customer feedback (NPS, currently at 74 ‘World Class’) and are proud of delivering consistently excellent scores.
Driving under the influence
According to new data from the Department for Transport (DfT), the number of people killed in UK collisions where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit is now at its highest level for 13 years. Highlight the risks and legal consequences of driving under the influence. Inform drivers about how alcohol and drugs impair driving abilities and offer support resources.
Correct seatbelt usage
Research suggests that a quarter of car drivers and passengers killed on UK roads were not wearing a seatbelt (Brake and AXA UK, 2023). This figure rises to 41% for crashes occurring between 6 pm and 8 am. Avoid potential injury and on the spot fines of up to £500 for not wearing a seatbelt. Promote correct seatbelt use through regular checks and positive reinforcement.
Distracted driving
Nearly 350 fatalities in 2022 were due to distraction or impairment according to DfT estimates. Teach drivers about the dangers of using mobile phones while driving, including delayed reactions and accident risks. Pull over to a safe space, take a break and make the call safely.
The guidance follows AA Business Services’ Yellow Paper launch, Our Driving Future: Making Human Factors More Predictable, which explores the role of human behaviour in driving safety. Additionally, The AA launched the AA Motoring Manifesto, Creating Confidence for Drivers, ahead of this year’s elections, which includes a focus on safer roads. Key policy recommendations include setting clear targets for reducing road deaths, increasing roads policing, and introducing graduated licenses to address new driver deaths.
Free fleet resources
Click here to download a free copy of the AA/Drivetech’s Yellow Paper Our Driving Future: Making Human Factors More Predictable.
To download a copy of the manifesto, visit: https://www.theaa.com/about-us/newsroom/aa-motoring-manifesto-2024.