Improving road safety for your team

Driving for work comes with dangers that most of us don’t have to deal with when just trying to do our job. Whether it’s long regional distances or even making quick city deliveries, employees who spend their time behind the wheel are at risk.

For businesses, that risk translates into responsibility. Employers are legally and morally required to create safe working environments, and that includes vehicles.
When it comes to driver safety, optimism isn't a policy. Just because your drivers haven’t ever had an incident doesn’t mean they won’t, and being proactive through low risk driver training and other methods is always the best approach.

Take a look at some of the ways to improve on-road safety for your team that go beyond providing well-maintained vehicles.

How to improve road safety for your team

The following steps will improve driver safety awareness and build better habits for those behind the wheel:

1. Use technology that supports smarter driving

Telematics is a valuable tool for businesses looking to improve fleet safety. With the right system in place, you can access real-time data on speeding, harsh braking and hours behind the wheel.

Having the information is a positive step, but technology on its own won’t change behaviour. The data needs to be used to identify patterns and driving habits, then open up conversations with drivers and highlight the need for Low Risk Driver Training.

If telematics data isn’t available or if it doesn’t complete the picture, driver coaching and assessments, and follow up driver training can be a good alternative. As part of the assessment, a trainer observes a driver behind the wheel and pinpoints any actions that may raise the risk or impact of a potential crash. After the session, the driver receives tailored feedback, and the employer is provided with a written report summarising the findings.

2. Invest in training that aligns with your company values

Speaking of training, most people never receive formal driving education after they pass their driving test. That means they’re on the road from age 18 to 85, driving the way they always have, even if that style is outdated or has become unsafe due to changing conditions or regulations.

Good corporate driver training bridges that gap and updates drivers’ skills to match modern roads, vehicles and laws.

Two common approaches are defensive driver training and low risk driver training.

• Defensive driver training is more reactive. It focuses on how to respond to unexpected hazards like skidding or sudden braking. This is helpful but can sometimes produce over-confident drivers who believe they can engage in risky behaviour because they have a better sense of control over their vehicle. This type of training is also difficult to recall in emergency or sudden situations.
• Low risk driver training takes a proactive stance, teaching drivers how to avoid hazards in the first place. It's about scanning ahead, managing speed, keeping space, understanding your ‘weaknesses’ as a driver and staying focused; all practical strategies that can reduce crashes and improve fuel efficiency.

Training doesn’t need to mean pulling every driver off the road for a full day. Online driver training, webinars, informal toolbox talks and one-on-one driver coaching can still have a big impact.

3. Build a culture where safety comes first

Driver behaviour often reflects workplace culture. If the message from leadership is “just get there quickly”, safety will take a back seat. If the focus is on safe outcomes, not unrealistic deadlines, that changes.

A genuine safety culture starts at the top and goes beyond running training once a year. It involves ongoing conversations and using every meeting or check-in as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of driving safely.

A cultural change can be something like placing a photo of a loved one on the dashboard. This is a simple prompt that can help encourage safer choices on the road. It’s also important for leaders to demonstrate their commitment to driver safety by setting a good example and encouraging the right behaviours.

4. Don’t overlook the basics

Vehicle safety doesn’t end with training and policies. It also comes down to individual awareness. For example, drivers should understand how to set up their seat to avoid fatigue and injury, especially when driving for long periods. Good driver ergonomics mean hands should be positioned below shoulder height and posture should allow access to all controls without strain. This can help prevent postural fatigue in people who drive for a living.

Speed is another commonly misunderstood factor in driver safety. The idea of ‘safe speeding’ doesn’t hold up. At 40 km/h, a pedestrian has a 60% chance of survival if hit. At 50 km/h, that drops to 10%. A seemingly small difference in speed can have life-or-death consequences.

Consider the ‘iceberg effect’, where there are visible costs of running a fleet or requiring drivers for your business like fuel and vehicle repairs, but also hidden expenses like productivity setbacks and legal fees when drivers are not driving responsibly or ensuring they reduce the likelihood of injury.

5. Make your policies clear and communicate them often

Having a documented driving policy is essential, but it’s never enough on its own. Your drivers need to know the policy exists, understand what it says and be reminded of it regularly. Consider including driving policies in induction programs, sharing updates in team briefings and addressing them as part of performance conversations.

A clear policy will answer important questions, like what happens after a crash, who’s responsible for speeding fines and what to do if a driver feels unsafe. It should also spell out what’s acceptable when it comes to using phones in vehicles and whether or not to answer if a supervisor or customer calls.

Benefits of driver training

The NRMA has worked with hundreds of Australian businesses, providing workshops and low risk driver training programs. The outcomes of this investment include:

• Improved safety culture: Regular training sessions foster a strong, safety-first mindset among drivers, embedding safe driving as a shared value across the organisation.
• Reduced vehicle incidents: Our clients have reported that consistency in training has directly contributed to fewer accidents and incidents involving work vehicles.
• Lower repeat offences: Drivers who have had issues in the past are less likely to reoffend when safety principles are reinforced regularly through structured training. Studies back this, finding that instruction designed to reduce recidivism is effective in reducing both violations and accidents of repeat offenders.
• Sustained awareness: Keeping safe driving front of mind requires ongoing focus, dropping training risks complacency and a decline in safety standards.
• Proactive Risk Management: Regular sessions help identify and address risky behaviours before they escalate into serious issues.

Encouraging and rewarding safe driving behaviour will reinforce training and help instil a safety-first culture at your workplace. 

In summary:

• Driving is one of the highest-risk activities employees face, and employers have a legal and moral duty to provide a safe working environment – including on the road.
• Telematics, AI technology and driver assessments can identify risky behaviours, but they must be paired with meaningful low risk corporate driver training and clear policies to drive real change.
• Low risk driver training offers a proactive approach, helping drivers avoid hazards through improved scanning, speed control and focus, unlike defensive training, which is reactive.
• Practical awareness, such as correct seat positioning and understanding the impact of small increases in speed, is essential to improving driver safety long-term.
• A strong safety culture starts with leadership, clear policies and regular communication to reinforce safe behaviours and expectations.

Safer roads start with corporate driver training

Improving driver safety is about foresight rather than fear. From smart tech to cultural leadership, every part of your organisation can play a role in keeping your team safer on the road.

Looking to support your team with practical, tailored corporate driver training that includes low risk driver training, online training and more? NRMA Driver Training is available Australia-wide and offers flexible workshops, assessments and support to help your people drive safer, every day.

Enquire online or call 1300 721 756 to find out more.