Types of driver education and training
As well as standard driver education and training, staff might need more specialised versions to address specific driver safety requirements.
Here are some types of driver education and training that may be available.
Executive and senior management education
An organisational road safety program needs leadership and support from senior managers to achieve the culture change needed to achieve attitude change.
Therefore, managers at all levels must be actively involved. Executive and senior managers should fully understand the road safety program, driving risks and their obligations.
Induction training
When an organisation considers the work health and safety component of its staff induction program, this should include an overview of its road safety program.
This is the first step in establishing a culture that supports the attitudes and behaviours associated with responsible road safety. All staff must be aware that their organisation recognises road safety as an important issue.
An induction process can also identify whether a new staff member has:
- any specialised, work-related driver education and training needs
- a current licence or any licence restrictions.
QFleet has an online driver induction module for Queensland Government staff. Anyone who drives a government vehicle for work should complete this induction, no matter how often or far they drive.
Search for the course on your agency’s learning management system (LMS) or read about the Driving a vehicle safely for work induction.
Vehicle familiarisation training
Under work health and safety legislation, employers are responsible for the safety of staff who drive a fleet vehicle for work. Drivers are also responsible for the safety of themselves, passengers, other drivers and road users, including pedestrians and the public.
To manage work health and safety responsibilities adequately, organisations should provide vehicle familiarisation training for drivers operating new and unfamiliar work vehicles.
Some fleet vehicles are updated every 2 or 3 years, so drivers will probably need to drive vehicles with controls and features they’re not familiar with. These could include:
- electronic or foot-operated parking brakes
- keyless ignition systems
- automatic engine idle stop
- discrete gear change levers
- indicator controls or headlight controls on either side of the steering column
- automatic headlights and windscreen wipers
- complex seat and/or steering wheel adjustments
- adaptive front lighting systems
- space-saver spare wheels or tyre inflation kits
- hybrid and electric drive systems
- touchscreen displays/controls
- heads-up displays
- lane departure warning systems
- visual and audible warnings and alarms
- semi-autonomous and autonomous driving
- electric vehicle charging
- hydrogen refuelling.
As well as training, you could provide a vehicle safety card or owner manual (in the glove box) that explains the new or unusual features. Advise drivers that they will find the instructions here.
If your organisation’s vehicle familiarisation is limited to drivers reading the vehicle owner manual, provide the driver with the manual and enough time to read it thoroughly before they operate the vehicle for the first time.
If the vehicle is significantly different from vehicles the driver has driven before, such as a 4WD or electric vehicle, have an experienced supervisor provide a comprehensive familiarisation.
Remedial training
Organisations should have:
- parameters and policies for remedial driver training as part of ongoing risk management activities
- a system to identify drivers who need further driver education and training and/or remediation.
An organisation should never ignore warning signs that a driver needs remedial education and training, including:
- repeated traffic infringements
- repeated ‘at-fault’ vehicle crashes
- frequent incidents involving risky behaviour.
Timely remedial education and training helps an organisation meets its work health and safety obligations and prevents more serious incidents occurring.
Specialist driver education and training
Specialist driver education and training may be required in organisations where drivers operate specialist vehicles or vehicles in extreme environments.
This includes:
- vehicles equipped with hoists for transporting people with a disability
- 4WD vehicles in rural and remote environments
- vehicles towing large trailers.
One-on-one training
Some drivers benefit from one-on-one training with a professional driver educator or trainer. One-on-one training can address attitudinal or motivational issues such as:
- overconfidence
- lack of confidence, including due to previous vehicle trauma
- poor perception skills, such as hazard perception.
Refresher education and training
An organisation might require refresher education and training in a specific skill area rather than a comprehensive driver education and training course to:
- address inexperience or lack of recent experience
- allow a driver to refresh skills that they don’t use often, such as towing
- allow experienced drivers to refresh their road rules knowledge
- give drivers more confidence
- train drivers to drive off-road or use a manual transmission
- allow older drivers to update their skills and knowledge
- assist drivers with a disability.
Eco-driving education and training
Economical driving (or eco-driving) involves operating a vehicle ‘fuel efficiently’ to achieve better fuel economy and reduce tailpipe emissions.
In this training, drivers are encouraged to adopt a smooth and non-aggressive driving style with fewer starts and stops. Read more about the benefits of eco-driving.
Read about where to find a suitable training and education provider.