Driver coaching is important for each firm that has drivers, whether or not they’re driving a heavy-haul automobile or one of many sedans within the firm fleet. Essentially the most profitable driver coaching program begins with behind-the-wheel coaching the place driving behaviors could be recognized, examined, and bolstered. Whereas thorough behind-the-wheel coaching is a good place to begin, it’s simply that: a place to begin. 

Comply with-up coaching is crucial for refreshing drivers on what they’ve beforehand discovered and pinpointing shortfalls the place unsafe habits might have slipped again in.

Not all driving habits will change in a single day, even with correct coaching. Due to this fact, it’s essential to offer drivers with the appropriate instruments and coaching to maintain them from defaulting to outdated habits behind the wheel to keep away from crashes in firm autos.

Well timed reminders of protected practices and selling a tradition of fleet security are instrumental to ongoing success in decreasing collisions and the related prices. 

Together with routine follow-up driver coaching as a part of your organization’s driver security practices might help decrease the variety of employee-involved crashes every year and scale back dangers for each your personal drivers and for others on the highway.

Growing a Comply with-Up Driver Coaching Program 

Corporations ought to present in-person behind-the-wheel coaching as the muse of each profitable fleet security program. This coaching gives a strong base to construct on and equips every driver with the important thing ideas for safer driving. 

With Smith System driver security coaching, this may be carried out one among two methods:

1. DriverDirect, This superior classroom and behind-the wheel coaching program teaches protected driving practices utilizing The Smith5Keys®.  Our on-road coaching combines the bodily realities of site visitors, climate and dynamic driving circumstances with the reinforcement of a Smith System teacher. By studying in real-world eventualities, drivers are higher in a position to replicate their abilities on the job.  
2. DriverTrainer, For corporations with in-house security applications, we provide train-the-trainer certifications. These periods present trainers with the talents they should carry our confirmed crash-prevention strategies to your fleet drivers. Trainers be taught to determine drivers’ strengths and weaknesses behind-the-wheel and supply customized, sensible options to driving deficiencies. Utilizing the DriverTrainer Starter Package, they’ll have all of the assets they should start offering knowledgeable instruction as quickly as they obtain certification. 

Really useful Comply with-Up Coaching Timeline

After preliminary behind-the-wheel coaching, drivers ought to routinely evaluate Smith System movies or E-Studying and obtain full classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel coaching each 18 months to 2 years. 

Under is a recommended timeline for follow-up coaching: 

Month-to-month: eLearning Course or Video 

1. eLearning Bundle

The Smith eLearning bundle delivers driver security coaching the place you want it, while you want it. eLearning permits college students to evaluate our driving methodology at their very own tempo and incorporates testing to enhance studying and retention. The eLearning bundle gives entry to our full library of programs for one yr, together with the next programs:

• Core Content material
• The Smith5Keys to Ahead Movement and Backing (60 Minutes)

• Driving Collection Programs
• Driving the 5 Keys 
• Driving Reverse
• Driving Distracted 
• Driving Drowsy 
• Driving Climate
• Driving House
• Driving Ready
• Driving Expertise 
• Driving Household 
• Driving at Night time 

• Arrive Alive Programs
  • Constructing Efficient Seeing Habits (4 Minutes)
  • Following Distance (4 Minutes)
  • Avoiding Distractions (7 Minutes)
  • Avoiding a Rear Finish Collision (6 Minutes)
  • Avoiding Backing Collisions (5 Minutes)
  • Foul Climate Driving (5 Minutes)
  • Drowsy Driving (7 Minutes)
  • Avoiding Intersection Collisions (7 Minutes)
  • Saving Gas (7 Minutes)
  • Feelings and Driving (5 Minutes)
  • Margin for Error (5 Minutes)
  • Correct Positioning in Site visitors (5 Minutes)

2. Movies (Out there in DVD or USB)

Utilizing the catalog of Smith System movies is an effective way to complement coaching and supply ongoing instruction. A method to make use of these movies is to supply month-to-month or quarterly subjects for drivers to give attention to as a part of a company-wide initiative. Movies may even be used throughout related occasions of the yr, comparable to providing the Foul Climate Driving course throughout wintertime.  Use any of the Smith System Driving Collection movies that really feel pertinent to the particular wants of your drivers, whether or not that’s drowsy driving, distracted driving or preparedness previous to driving.

6 Months Submit Coaching: Refresher Video 

Six months put up preliminary coaching is a good time to revisit a number of the ideas taught within the authentic course. 

The Smith System video for really useful follow-up coaching is “Driving the 5Keys.” This video is included within the DriverTrainer Starter Package and gives an in depth evaluate of The Smith5Keys® and tips on how to make the most of the ideas to construct house and visibility to have time to keep away from crashes.

Yearly: On-line Refresher Course

One yr after preliminary behind-the-wheel coaching is an optimum time for drivers to enroll in a web-based refresher course. 

Smith System’s eLearning choices embrace varied programs, so it’s attainable to decide on a selected matter to give attention to or choose a extra generalized Smith System overview. 

On-line programs are damaged down by totally different industries and automobile varieties, comparable to bus and transit, giant automobile and small automobile, so the coaching could be extra focused to every driver’s wants.   

For ease of supply, the web programs are self-paced and have particular person monitoring and reporting options, making it easy for security managers or trainers to assign the coaching and comply with every driver’s progress.

Yearly: Journey Alongside

Some corporations go for each driver to have a ride-along driving analysis yearly. Journey-alongs could be carried out by Smith System Instructors, licensed in-house Driver Trainers or in-house Driver Ability Evaluators. How do you certify Driver Ability Evaluators?

• Driver Ability Evaluator Course: The Smith System Driver Ability Evaluator Course teaches managers the talents they want for the one-on-one, behind-the-wheel, follow-up coaching. The course focuses on client-specific driving issues and options primarily based on the Smith System.

Each 18-24 Months: Superior Driver Security Coaching

Even with continued supplemental coaching, it’s essential for drivers to undergo the entire Smith System classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction each 18 months to 2 years. 

This permits trainers to watch any downside areas that may have developed and permits drivers to focus on areas the place their driving abilities could be improved.

DriverDirect Refresher programs could be delivered by Smith System Instructors or in-house DriverTrainers. So as to add selection to the DriverDirect Refresher courses you’ll be able to emphasize sure downside areas comparable to intersections, lane altering, distractions, inclement climate, following distance, and drowsy driving. 

The Superior Backing course is one other nice choice to make the most of as follow-up coaching. This course instructs drivers on tips on how to keep away from backing each time attainable and tips on how to correctly use protected parking and backing strategies to keep away from crashes when backing is important. The course contains classroom instruction, in addition to behind-the-wheel, on-location close-quarter maneuvering. 

This superior hands-on coaching contains: 

• Blind space demonstrations
• Positioning of mirrors
• Diminishing cones train
• Serpentine maneuvering
• Backing when parking follow
• Proper hand turns

This course could be taught by Smith System Teacher or licensed in-house DriverTrainers which have accomplished the DriverTrainer Superior Backing certification.  

What Corporations Achieve from Further Coaching

Drivers aren’t the one ones who reap the advantages of follow-up coaching. Corporations that supply steady studying for his or her workers can keep away from costly work-related crashes that, in 2013 alone, price employers $25 billion. 

Every crash with out a fatality prices a median of $65,000, whereas deadly crashes price employers greater than 10 occasions that quantity for a median of $671,000.

In comparison with the price of a crash — even when it’s a fender-bender that ends in average injury and wasted time for the worker concerned — the funding of money and time in a driver coaching program is one which pays off shortly and continues paying off over time. 

Different frequent advantages that end result from extra environment friendly driving habits embrace lowered gasoline prices and put on and tear on autos, leading to decrease upkeep prices; much less extreme crashes when incidents do happen, and improved productiveness general.

With regards to making a complete driver security coaching program, together with follow-up driver coaching is a key element that can reinforce what drivers have been taught and remind them to at all times hold security prime of thoughts when behind the wheel.