Pedestrian safety plays a big role in fleet management. The high risk of pedestrian accidents on SA roads is a reality that won’t magically disappear. If drivers are correctly trained and prepared it will make a noticeable difference to your fleet risk and operations.
Road conditions in South Africa are, unfortunately, extremely dangerous and anyone working in the fleet or transport industry has a responsibility to ensure they do what they can to reduce the risk to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
According to Arrive Alive, 35-40% of road deaths in SA are pedestrian deaths. The causes vary from intoxication to poor visibility and little infrastructure that allows safe road crossings.
Therefore, no matter what type of fleet you manage, your business will benefit if drivers are specifically trained in pedestrian safety. Drivers that are properly trained can lower your fleet’s risk score, which leads to better insurance deals and overall savings on your fleet operations.
Good training also means less damage to vehicles and a much safer work environment for your driver. Add to that the benefit of building an excellent reputation around your business and its fleet practices, and there’s actually very little room to argue against top-notch driver training programs. Fleet managers must ensure that drivers are equipped to deal with the reality of pedestrian accident risks on South African roads.
For further information on the importance and types of driver training available, see these blog posts below:
- It’s the same as any other industry: providing drivers with the correct tools and training will result in better driver performance and lower fleet repair costs. Read here to see how improved driver behaviour impacts your fleet safety and performance: https://blog.efm.co.za/how-driver-behaviour-and-safety-impact-your-fleets-performance
- A performance review must be treated as an incentive to improve and not as a tool to belittle and cause staff to resent their employer. This blog will give you insight into ensuring your performance reviews really make a difference, rather than simply ticking a box: https://blog.efm.co.za/building-fleet-success-accurate-driver-training-and-reviews
- Learn how to instil a culture of safety and respect regarding all company and fleet vehicles. Whether your staff are professional drivers or are driving company vehicles as part of their remuneration, it is important to ensure risk and damage are kept to a minimum. Read here for some tips on how to coach drivers to take care of fleet vehicles: https://blog.efm.co.za/importance-of-driver-coaching
Fleet management has a very broad scope and requires expertise in legal, technical and financial fields. Read our blog to gain insight into relevant topics and find out how you can improve your own fleet processes.
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