But for fleet managers wanting to learn more about risk management and convey the message back to employees, there is another solution – and it is free.
A new one-day training seminar launched last year has been designed by road safety charity Brake and parcel delivery firm FedEx to provide those in charge of running a fleet with a comprehensive ready-written PowerPoint presentation covering every aspect of risk management.
One of the most recent meetings was held at the FedEx offices at Stansted airport.
Fleet managers left the full-day event with advice on giving a presentation, how to prepare and structure the presentation, materials to use, a PowerPoint disc and follow-up information.
A word-by-word account of what to say and prompts to use to engage employees during the presentation were handed out at the end of the session.
Jools Townsend, communications manager at Brake, gave advice to 11 fleet managers from across the country.
Townsend said: ‘It is basically free training for fleets – ensuring the safety of company drivers, with the aim of supporting the road safety message. We want fleets to spread the word, ideally with two to three sessions to their employees over the next year.’
Studies from Brake show that high-mileage drivers are at more risk and are more likely to take risks than those covering low mileages.
The seminar addresses this issue with advice that may seem simple but can easily be overlooked on how to convey to company car drivers the risks they face on the road.
The advice on delivering seminars to fleet drivers covers language and style, preparation, topic order and feedback.
Tips on language and style include: ‘Do not sit behind a desk, sit in a circle if possible and look at your audience while presenting.
‘Engage with your audience as much as possible and use the questions on your PowerPoint slides to quiz your audience as well as to provide information and advice contained on the slides.’
On preparation, advice includes checking that there are enough leaflets to hand out to the group, reading through the presentation to become familiar with it and ensuring basic things, such as whether a projector is available.
The Brake seminar co-ordinator also provides delegates with back-up contact information if further material or help is required following the seminar.
One fleet manager who attended the first course said one of the advantages of attending a seminar hosted by a recognised body was that it provided more authority when the message was passed back to drivers.
He said: ‘I can now go back to drivers and say ‘Brake’ is the authority. One of the main problems I come across is knowing what information is out there, but having the authority means drivers can not disagree with it.’
In the presentation, those attending are taught about 14 different risk management topics ranging from speeding and drink-driving to vehicle checking and crash protection. (See below for full outline of topics covered).
The courses are being held in locations across the UK and run from 10.30am until 4pm.
SAFETY TOPICS FOR DRIVERS
BRAKE
BRAKE is a national road safety charity with two aims:
Brake employs a team of dedicated staff at its headquarters in Yorkshire. Its chief executive is Mary Williams who was awarded the OBE for her services to road safety in 2000.
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