Defensive Driver Training

Defensive Driver Training

Every day a driver goes out on Irish roads and kills him/herself or someone else. For every fatality there are 8 people who suffer life-changing injuries. 90% of all crashes are attributed to human error and therefore are avoidable. Olive Safety therefore believes that Driver Safety is essential in every work place, and that in particular, fleet operators should look carefully at the duty of care extended to employees behind the wheel.
Defensive Driving Training, from Olive Safety, makes drivers more aware of what affects their driving performance and it gives them knowledge and skills to cope with the daily demands when driving on the road. The course reminds drivers of their legal responsibilities with emphasis on the driver’s fitness to drive and the vehicle safety checks. We encourage people to take pride in their driving performance.

Olive Safety’s Trainers are concerned with changing drivers’ perception of risk by suggesting ideas and thought processes which drivers can adopt in an everyday driving situation. Training is carried out in a relaxed way, in the belief that far more will be achieved if the driver is at ease and in a positive frame of mind.

Drivers attending the defensive driving programme learn to assess potential road traffic hazards correctly in order to avoid them and to drive in a safe systematic way

Course content includes:

- Hazard anticipation
- Observation skills
- Group discussion with video covering contributory causes of accidents
- Accident Procedure
Vehicle checks prior to driving assessment
Driving assessments with coaching and advice
Validation of learning points and key areas for improvement.

On completion of the course drivers should have:
- Better understanding of their vehicle
- Better concentration for the driving task
- Earlier anticipation of potential hazards
- Reduced risk of being involved in an accident.

Benefits for Company

• Reduced insurance premiums
• Reduced accident repair costs
• Reduced lost time due to maintenance and repairs
• Improved vehicle scheduling
• Improved savings on fuel, tyres and spares
• Improved company image

Experienced and specially qualified trainers run the Defensive Driver Training Programme. The Theory Section is offered either from Olive Office or nationwide at the company site or a suitable location. The Driving training is carried out in the company vehicle normally used by the driver.