Silverstone experience rewarded safe-at-work driving

Citation

(2007), "Silverstone experience rewarded safe-at-work driving", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 39 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2007.03739fab.006

Silverstone experience rewarded safe-at-work driving

Ryder, a UK commercial-vehicle, fleet-management and supply-chain company, has worked with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and Silverstone motor-racing circuit to recognize high safety standards among its drivers.

Ryder selected 50 employees who drive as part of their job to take part in the Ultimate Driving Experience at Sliverstone. Around 900 of the company’s drivers competed for places and the successful candidates were chosen because of their “low risk” classification in driver assessments and their blemish-free accident and endorsement record over the past year.

The Ultimate Driving Experience, put together by Ryder in conjunction with RoSPA, is the latest element to be incorporated into the company’s driver training-program, which covers all staff members who drive for work.

Activities at Silverstone focused on developing participants’ driving skills, including precision light-goods-vehicle manoeuvring sessions run by RoSPA driver trainers. There were also opportunities for drivers to learn the skills needed to manage high-performance vehicles in a safe environment, as well as experience off-road driving.

Ryder’s driver-training program, developed with RoSPA, means that the driving skills of 900 employees are assessed each year. Some 20 lead drivers are being trained to become in-house assessors.

All drivers work through RoSPA’s online Driver Profiler software, which measures their strengths and weaknesses behind the wheel. Drivers identified to be “high risk” undergo one-to-one defensive-driver training with RoSPA. Ryder staff also take part in RoSPA’s national Safe Driving Awards, through which their driving records are held and updated annually, with rewards for those who have been accident-free.

Errol Taylor, RoSPA deputy chief executive, said: “Organizations with employees who drive as part of their job are expected to have a systematic approach to dealing with at-work road risk. Ryder has just such an approach and we commend the company’s investment in, and commitment to, driver safety. Programs such as those introduced by Ryder not only meet legal requirements, but can also bring real business benefits.”

Simon Head, Ryder’s health, safety, environment and security manager, said: “We are committed to investing in driver safety and as part of our system to manage at-work road risk. We hope the Ultimate Driving Experience will become an annual event that serves as an incentive to all our drivers to stay focused on road safety.”