Safe and efficient driving go hand in hand, and proper training for employees who spend a lot of time on the road goes a long way to improving both.

Almost without exception, we consider ourselves good, if not great, drivers. But what does this mean? That we arrive at our destination without an accident, haven’t had a speeding ticket (phew, that was lucky), and our load arrived intact?

These are all important, but are they the definition of a good driver? One way I assess good driving is by how comfortable the passenger(s) feel. Another is by examining the wear and tear on the vehicle and the fuel usage.

I recently put my team through fuel efficiency training. We travel a lot for work; this is expensive, but more importantly, it is one of our critical risks. The training was developed for heavy motor vehicles, but it worked well for our fleet of cars. Allan Murphy, Progressive Futures, delivered the training. Allan has been involved in driver education for two decades and is passionate about safety in driving.

Fuel efficiency and safety go hand in hand when driving. To drive efficiently, you must scan and assess the road, other road users, the terrain, and other factors. Knowing what is happening around you enables you to respond to situations rather than react. It buys you time to make good decisions. Safety, of course, involves understanding the problem, and knowing and implementing the appropriate actions.

The team reports more awareness on the road, as driving efficiently requires more concentration. Fuel usage has decreased. There is no downside to training drivers.

Tracey Murphy is the owner and director of Safewise Ltd, a health and safety consultancy. She has more than eight years’ experience working with organisations from many different industries. Tracey holds a Diploma in Health and Safety Management and a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health, and is a graduate member of New Zealand Institute of Safety Management, and the Waikato branch secretary.