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This month a survey of motorists suggested new drivers should be banned from driving at night, on the motorway and with a car full of friends. Statistics show that young drivers are more likely than any other age group to die on the roads, particularly young male drivers, so within a fleet policy how should these drivers be managed?
My view is in the same way as any other company driver; assess their road risk and take ongoing action to mitigate against it.
A driver's risk rating will depend on a range of factors including annual mileage, past driving record and age; so younger drivers tend to fall into the high risk category. It is crucial to address this high risk group proactively, preventing accidents rather than reacting to them.
One of the best ways to do this is through driver training, ensuring that young drivers have the tools at their disposal to stay safe. It seems crazy that many companies train new staff to work specific IT systems but neglect driver training.
Restricting the driver's vehicle choice is another way to influence the way that young drivers handle themselves when on the road. For example a reduction in engine size can often mean a reduction in high-speed crashes.
While it is sometimes easy to forget those drivers who drive pool cars or their own vehicle on business they must be included within the company fleet strategy. These young drivers may not be presented with a car of their own, but the same risks apply, and can often be worse if they are driving their own vehicle which isn't fit for purpose.
My advice is that young drivers often pose a high risk so address this as you would with any high risk driver on the fleet, but importantly, don't miss the point. Resist the temptation to get too hung up on age when in fact experience is the key factor. A 40 year old driver may fit into a low risk demographic, but if he/she only passed their test last week, they could be a much higher risk, particularly if asked to do higher mileage.
All fleets must set out clear guidelines for their drivers irrespective of age, paying particular attention to those identified in the 'high risk' category. Once this has been done it is essential to encourage a culture of safe driving by ensuring that ongoing support and guidance is available to drivers.
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