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LEARNING TO SUCK EGGS
Page 11
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Having criticised the SAFE driver training scheme, Barry Proctor accepted an invitation to try it for himself, and he found much to commend it
A tew weeks' ago I wrote in this column that I thought the Road Haulage Modernisation Fund's new driver training scheme, SAFED, was effectively trying to teach drivers to suck eggs. N point was that although the concept is fundamentally sound, the money could be better spent elsewhere —for example, funding the fitment of telematics equipment to allow operator to accurately monitor their drivers' behaviour behind the wheel.
This, of course, was a bit like prodding a particularly irate pitbull with my foot. Duly enraged, the people behind SAFED sank their teeth into my shin (metaphorically speaking) and invited me to try out a day of their instruction at Volvo's HQ in Warwick. So as I flew down the surprisingly truck-free M6 Toll worried what I was going to find at the other end. In the event all was fine and I was treated superbly, thanks to instructor Andrew Shemans.
"The central plank of my argument stands; we funding for monitoring equipment to watch c
During the day I improved both my mpg figure and my overall journey time. That said, I can see how they achieved these: a familiar route and a familiar truck all helped the instructor point out where my faults were and the fact that the first run was in the morning rush hour in the rain might have hi some bearing on it.
Despite this I found there was enough in the course for n to have changed my opinion on it. Although you'll probably not see vast improvements if you send highly professional drivers on it, the majority will come away having learned something new.
However, the central plank of my argument still stands: funding should be available for the fitment of monitoring equipment to enable operators to keep tabs on their costs. After all, what better way to see whether the SAFED training has had any impact than to pick up improved fuel returns and a reduction in harsh braking on your newly fitted piece of computer wizardry?