Unfortunately, compliance alone won’t keep your drivers (or business) safe.
Unsafe driving behaviours collectively cost businesses millions in accidents, lost productivity, and repairs every year. Is your driving policy part of the solution or part of the problem?
At first glance, most workplace safe driving policies seem solid; they tick the compliance box and protect the business. But what about the safety of your drivers?
While policies often meet legal requirements, they can unintentionally encourage unsafe behaviours. We’re here to tackle three common policy blind spots to show you how a few small tweaks can make a huge difference for your drivers and your business.
Speeding
Safe driving policies often allow a small speed tolerance, letting drivers exceed the limit by a set margin for a limited time. It may seem harmless, but did you know that driving just 5km/h over the limit doubles your crash risk?
Which leads to the question: How safe is it to have a speed tolerance allowance? Policies that include speed tolerances are actively sending the message to drivers that it’s okay to bend the rules, even though there is heightened danger.
“While your policy might look good on paper, is it helping your drivers make safer choices on the road?”
Mobile phone use
Many policies permit hand-free devices while driving, aligning with legal requirements. But here’s the catch: even hands-free isn’t risk-free.
Research shows that a driver on a hands-free call is four times more likely to crash compared to those who drive without distraction.
Why? Because your brain is occupied with managing the call rather than concentrating on driving.
The distraction and inattention caused by even lawful phone use can have serious consequences. Encourage drivers to keep their focus where it belongs: on the road ahead. And embed this into your work culture so your drivers aren’t expected to take calls on the road.
Fatigue Management
Fatigue management policies often prescribe rigid rules for breaks during long drives. Yet the reality is that drivers might ignore these guidelines or push through exhaustion to meet deadlines, increasing the risk of fatigue-related accidents - something no policy can undo.
While clear rules on drive times are essential, it’s just as important to create an environment where drivers feel comfortable discussing potential conflicts with safety policies. If a driver feels pressured to speed or push through fatigue to stay on schedule, there should be a process for them to raise concerns and explore alternative arrangements - whether that’s adjusting deadlines, reassigning tasks, or scheduling additional support. When safety is prioritised in both policy and practice, drivers are far less likely to take risks that put themselves and others in danger.
When safe driving policies only add more rules and consequences for breaking them, they can feel like just another layer of compliance rather than a genuine commitment to safety. A strong policy goes beyond enforcing compliance. It helps drivers understand why safety matters and how to make better choices on the road.
Reimagining safe driving policies
Want to set your team up for success? To truly protect drivers, workplace policies need to go beyond compliance and focus on building a culture of safety. When safe driving becomes second nature, policy violations become the exception and not the rule.
· Make training a standard practice: Don’t wait for policy violations to provide training. Instead, make regular driver education a key part of your business. Well-trained drivers make safer choices every day.
· Promote continuous improvement: Just like great athletes, encourage drivers to continuously sharpen their skills and their knowledge. This builds a culture where safety becomes second nature both on and off the job.
· Normalise safety discussions: Talking about safe driving shouldn’t feel like a lecture or a punishment. When safety is openly discussed, drivers are more likely to support one another in making better decisions.
Of course, policies still matter. Rules exist for a reason, and breaking them should have consequences. But those consequences should be about upholding the policy, not replacing a culture of safety with a culture of punishment. When you build a workplace where safety is the norm, policies work for you, not against you - helping drivers stay on track and making enforcement the exception, not the focus.
Think of your safe driving policy as a living, breathing playbook. When you shift from check-box compliance to genuine safety, you create a culture where drivers feel empowered to make smarter decisions every day.
Now’s the time to take a fresh look at your driving policies and make them truly safe for your drivers and your business.
