To prevent your fleet drivers from speeding, you need to adopt a dynamic approach that incorporates strict company policies, advanced technology, and comprehensive training. This method will promote safer driving habits, thus improving overall fleet running costs and enhancing safety.
Speeding is one of the most common causes of road accidents. It also consumes more fuel, causes vehicle damage, and could lead to reputational damage for your company. This sort of driving behaviour will, in the long run, result in higher fleet operational costs. In today’s article, we give you 9 simple ways to reduce the speeding habits of your vehicle operators.
Speeding is a huge concern on South African roads, and for a business it can result in higher operational expenses. With the right strategy, your business can overcome this issue with ease. Here are 9 ways to stop your fleet drivers from speeding:
Technological solutions are the key to curbing the issue of speeding. As a fleet manager, you must invest in a vehicle telematics system, as it gives you a full view of how drivers behave on the road. You’ll get instant alerts of speeding incidents and extensive reports.
It’s always better to know why speeding incidents happen in the first place. Are the schedules too tight? Is it poor route planning? Or is it more of a company culture issue? These are the questions you should be asking to find the root cause and make amends.
Don’t assume all drivers know the law. Create company policies that clearly state the maximum speed allowed in different areas or road conditions. For example, drivers need to slow down at least 10 km/h below the speed limit when it rains. Put this in your policies and communicate it to them so they know what’s expected of them in those situations. Make sure every driver understands the rules.
Use the telematics system and fleet management platform to generate reports for each driver. The report should include things like how often they speed, when, and where. You might discover that some drivers only tend to speed on a certain route and therefore need training on a better way to go about it. Sharing reports is an opportunity to communicate with drivers, encourage safer driving, and reward improvements.
Ensure that drivers are regularly upgrading their driving skills. You can offer defensive driving courses or use each incident as an opportunity to send the driver for coaching. A good fleet management system should already have a coaching system in place to make it easier for you.
Accidents are the worst, as they could turn fatal. Drivers must understand the impact speeding has on a business beyond collisions. Educate them on the effects of speeding. Point out how it increases fuel costs and repair expenses, and makes the business a higher risk to insurers.
Every employee needs to be motivated, and rewarding good behaviour is one way to keep up morale. Give public recognition to drivers, like naming them “driver of the month” and putting them in newsletters. You can also give incentives such as gift cards, bonuses, or an extra break time.
In some cases, drivers end up speeding because they’re distracted by something else and are therefore not paying attention to the speed limits. It’s important that you install dashcams with AI capabilities, as these can detect when drivers are not paying attention to the road.
The cameras will give drivers alerts to change their behaviour, ensuring that they avoid accidents. You will also get reports on each distracted driving incident and can then review the footage with drivers to help them improve.
Unreasonable deadlines make drivers more likely to speed. As mentioned in one of our previous points, tight schedules and poor route planning might be one of the reasons drivers feel the need to speed. Use route optimisation software tools to perfectly plan routes and delivery times that allow safe driving.
Safety is a priority for everyone in the company. Therefore, managers and supervisors who use company vehicles should also follow the same safety rules. Setting this example helps create a culture where safe driving is taken seriously across the whole team.
Speeding inevitably increases the likelihood of road accidents. It may also result in injuries and fatalities! According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years. They also state that approximately 1.19 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes.
It’s also important to note that insurance premium rates are based on risk, and since speeding increases the chances of accidents, it also means an increase in insurance claims (and higher premiums). According to Fine SA, traffic fines WILL affect your insurance rates.
At Cartrack, we have various solutions for you to reduce speeding and improve driving behaviour. Here’s what we offer:
Using a mix of technology, fair rules, and a positive safety culture is the best way to improve overall driver conduct. Investing in our fleet management technologies is the first step to reducing risky driver behaviour. It also gives your business a stronger reputation and saves costs. Contact us today to see how we can help you curb speeding in your fleet.
Yes. Positive motivation, such as incentives, works better in the long term compared to penalties. When drivers feel punished, they tend to experience stress or fear, which can lead to them hiding violations or engaging in unsafe shortcuts to avoid consequences.
Fleet managers can train their drivers on-the-job by using GPS telematics systems and cameras. This ensures that they always have a close eye on behaviours such as speeding, harsh braking, or distracted driving. From there, they can provide feedback after trips or during scheduled coaching sessions.
Driver scorecards evaluate a driver’s performance based on telematics data. The system rates each driver on how they behave on the road. It monitors each trip and scores it according to the number of incidents. In doing so, drivers and fleet managers will know if they're good or if they need more training to practice safer driving.
Cut costs, improve safety, and protect your company’s reputation with our solutions. Reach out to us.
Read along to find out what you can do to reduce the amount of speeding fines in your business.
