Safer driving, based on science

Out on the road it can be a scary and dangerous place. We've all seen other drivers cross the centre line when they shouldn't, not give way when they should, and not react to hazards soon enough. And maybe, just maybe, we've done those things ourselves.

Fleetcoach’s Head of Research, Dr B. Robert Isler, has spent more than 20 years researching and sharing ways to safely train drivers in crucial high-level skills such as visual search, situation awareness, hazard anticipation and risk management. These are skills a lot of drivers lack – but they’re also more important than vehicle control skills when it comes to preventing crashes.

Dr Isler’s internationally recognised research has shown that video-based simulations are an effective way to train these high-level driving skills. Not only that, the skills learned through video simulations directly lead to safer attitudes in driver behaviour – and are transferable to real-world driving situations.

And so, for more than 10 years, the team at Fleetcoach has been using this research to educate and coach drivers to be safer road users.

Fleetcoach grew out of the success of eDrive, our programme for learner drivers. eDrive was developed in 2010 in collaboration with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), and is now part of the AA Defensive Driving course. We quickly realised that the self-directed coaching approach taken by eDrive would be just as effective for experienced drivers.

Coaching works because it encourages the driver to develop self-awareness. This allows them to take ownership of their self-directed learning. It’s a total contrast with the top-down instructional learning, where they’re told what to learn and how they’re going to learn it – research has shown that’s just not effective because we all have different learning styles.

With Fleetcoach, drivers are more engaged and motivated, and can gain real insight into how they can improve. We've found this is the best way to bring about long-lasting change and create good habits.

We’re always growing and updating Fleetcoach to reflect the latest research and our customers’ needs.

Join us in encouraging safe driving in your organisation, and making a real difference on our roads. 

Contact us today to find out more.