In fleets requiring drivers to travel long distances (such as sales fleets), most drivers either use their own vehicle or one provided by the company. One of the biggest keys to manage risk when driving in these situations is for the driver to receive training in the vehicle they use for work.

For every fleet, success depends on driver performance. Safe driving practices are essential to fleets running efficiently and effectively. Behind the wheel training is key for drivers, teaching them the best practices for driving a business-owned vehicle.

There are a wide variety of driver improvement courses for fleet drivers that help them improve behind-the-wheel performance. The training helps improve the safety of the drivers themselves and others on the road. It also helps fleets better manage risk, reduce insurance costs and build employee confidence in their abilities.

Multitasking while driving is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do behind the wheel. Why? Because drivers are fooling themselves believing they can multitask. Extensive research has proven that drivers are actually performing separate tasks sequentially and once attention is moved to a non-driving task, risk factors significantly increase. Unfortunately, the result is apparent in crash data, with distracted driving ranked as one of the biggest causes of traffic fatalities every year.

College-owned vehicle driver safety is an issue universities and colleges across the country should take seriously. With a fleet of vehicles used by employees and students in an environment with many inexperienced drivers and distracted pedestrians, academic institutions that offer driver training can create a safer campus and reduce their liability risk for off campus driving.