Fleet managers and their drivers have a key role to play in raising standards on UK roads, according to a former police traffic inspector.
Olly Taylor, who recently retired after 30 years on the Devon and Cornwall force, much of it spent in roads policing, believes the high-profile nature of branded fleets means the standards of the drivers must be higher as they set an example to other road users.
Speaking on the Driven By Excellence podcast with road safety trainers PDT Fleet Training Solutions, the Queen’s Police Medal recipient believes more education at a young age is also needed to have a positive impact on road safety.
Taylor said: “There's an important part to play for every driver, but for the fleet managers to set those standards, set those examples for all their other drivers to say this is how we are going to be as a company as a driving force, as a road user community.
“I think that the main advice for fleet drivers and commercial drivers is to be aware that there's an expectation on you to drive to the very best of your abilities. Everybody's abilities are different. Not everybody's going to be the world's best driver.
“But, if you choose to drive for a vocation, choose to drive for a living, you obviously clearly enjoy it, you get enjoyment out of driving. What you must understand is the responsibility that then sits on you as that commercial, as that fleet driver, that you are there to provide an example to others on the road.”
He also added that drivers are ambassadors for the companies they work at, and their driving reflects the company.
He added: “Fleets are an interesting one because they are on the road an awful lot of the time, often as not they are driving branded vehicles.
“So, whilst they are professional drivers, they're ambassadors for a company. So, if they misbehave behind the wheel, if they engage in risky road behaviours, they're also advertising that for the company they work for.”
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Rosco7010 - 21/03/2023 16:12
Whilst these comments are well meaning, in reality the only thing that significantly improves the driving of those who don't care, is the threat of being caught. Unfortunately whilst this former police officer is clearly looking to improve safety, the current police have withdrawn from active enforcement of traffic rules. The only conclusion is that with limited resources, they are targeting their attention in other areas. As fleets we can only do so much - driver training, dealing with complaints, taking meaningful action when proven incidents happen. Perhaps some monitoring of fuel consumption, tracker data if available. In vehicle video monitoring, would be a useful tool, but who is going to wade through hours of footage unless there is a specific reason to do so. From the police its the corporate version of blaming victims of burglary of leaving a window open, rather than blaming the thief!