A new fleet safety guide is now available from IAM RoadSmart, outlining best practice advice on how getting companies, drivers, fleet managers and vehicles back on track post-lockdown.
With travel restrictions being gradually eased as the country emerges from Covid-19, the guide explores a number of areas of concern to businesses and drivers including: the end of the furlough period; the importance of training; mental health; stressful journeys, fatigue and driver confidence.
“This is a hugely challenging time for people returning to work and for employers too,” states Tony Greenidge, IAM RoadSmart’s interim CEO.
“Following government advice to use public transport for essential journeys only, unimagined new pressures are being experienced by those commuting by car after switching from public transport as they fear for their safety amid the COVID-19 outbreak,” added Greenidge. “We do not yet know how this will affect congestion levels. There are concerns for fleet managers over vehicles, over how to ensure employees keep safe when sharing cars or meeting people, and with drivers who have lost confidence or are understandably under new stresses and strains.”
The launch of the new guide is accompanied by the launch of new e-learning modules for IAM’s ‘Choices’ online driver risk management and e-learning portal for business users. The new solution launched in April and covers everything from licence checking to driver risk profiling and e-learning, ensuring fleets continue to continue to benefit from online training solutions while on-road driver training remains problematic.
Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart’s director of policy & research, said: “If you’re worried about your drivers at the moment we certainly can help with refresher-type courses, giving invaluable feedback enabling you to interact with your workforce and have a conversation. Online is now well established and people are looking at this again. It’s a good way to keep fresh.”
The guide, ‘Covid-19 2020: Driving business back to work – safely and profitably’, can be download here.
