Against the grain?
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It’s time to get serious about Driver CPC
In a new regular column, John Horton of Focale Training, airs his view on the industry’s approach to training
“A waste of time and money?”
“Do we need a kick up the backside?” “It’s a waste of time; it’s a waste of money, why do I need to do it?” “My drivers don’t need it, tick-box training will do – let’s just do it as cheap as possible.” I have heard them all. Focale has trained thousands of drivers in the past five years and it’s amazing: ask drivers if they know enough details about Driver CPC and most of them don’t. Not even the basics.
I blame the government, the industry and the drivers.
I carried out training for one large company where the owner referred to his drivers as animals who do not appreciate anything, or deserve training.
I prefer to take the view that drivers are a very important cog in the works, and without them we could not function. They are ambassadors and should be trained and honed to perfection. Drivers are the difference between profit and loss. They need to be trained and convinced that they play an important part in the performance and operating success of the company for which they work.
Any training that is well thought out and delivered is not a waste of time or money. Driver CPC delivered effectively will encourage safer driving and save lives.
Four of the five most frequently reported contributory factors in accidents involved driver or rider error or reaction. Failing to look properly was reported in 38% of all accidents reported to the police in 2009. Companies have a duty of care and it is essential that drivers are initiated into the safety habit and continuously reflect on their responsibilities to other road users.
However, drivers of cars, vans, and trucks bear an equal responsibility. Driver CPC training is just a small part of the bigger picture.
Do something about it now...