THE company for driver risk management

FORD LEADS BY EXAMPLE

Market leader Ford is the first vehicle manufacturer to offer its fleet customers an own-branded driver risk management product, which consists of online risk assessments, online E-Learning modules and on-road practical driver coaching, for a fixed fee per head.

Fleet customers, even those with multi marque fleets, will be able to take advantage of the highly subsidised rate, which will be constant irrespective of what interventions are dictated by the online assessments that each driver would initially complete.

All elements of the risk management programme, which is very similar to the ‘DRM Package’ highlighted on the Products/Hands On Training page of the website, will be provided by Drive & Survive. Even the dedicated website that drivers will log onto to complete the online aspects of the programme has been built for Ford by the Drive & Survive in-house team.

Any corporate entity with a fleet in excess of 50 vehicles, at least one of which is a Ford product, wishing to take advantage of the Ford offer should contact Drive & Survive project manager Emily Nafzger on 0870 1218339 or on emily.nafzger@drivesurvive.co.uk.

Non Ford fleets comprising less than fifty vehicles can also take advantage of this truly integrated driver risk management programme but on different terms and conditions – please contact sales support on enquiries@drivesurvive.co.uk.

Back to top

LOOKING FORWARD TO WINTER

With the end of August already beginning to feel like winter I reckon we can be forgiven for starting to talk about winter driving courses already.

We are running a series of our popular half-day ‘Get A Grip on Winter Driving’ courses on the following dates and places are available for only £110.00 per person:

November 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 20th.

The workshops, which combine classroom-based and practical training, take place at the Prodrive Proving ground near Kenilworth and to book your place please contact our Customer Service team on 0870 1218339.

Back to top

USEFUL WEBSITE

By going to www.trafficradio.org.uk you will be able to view live traffic images from the Highways Agency’s network of 1,000 CCTV cameras before you set off on your journey.

The new service is linked to Traffic Radio, which broadcasts the latest traffic congestion news 24 hours a day on DAB radios, based on information received from 4,000 road sensors. Drivers equipped with DAB radios in their cars should use the ‘scan’ facility and scroll through until they reach ‘Traffic Radio’ on the menu.

Back to top

SHORT SIGHTED

According to recent research by Arval and Green Flag, only a third of business drivers have regular eye tests.

Employees have a duty under the motor licence regulations to inform the Drivers Medical Panel if their eyesight has deteriorated since their licence was issued. Failing to have an eye test at the recommended two-year intervals, and thus neglecting to use remedial eyewear, can result in a fine of up to £1,000.

Back to top

CHAMP GOES BACK TO SCHOOL

Former triple Grand Prix Champion Nelson Piquet has been sent to driver awareness school in his native Brazil for repeated speeding and parking offences. Piquet’s wife Viviane also attended the classes, having had her licence revoked for similar offences.

“I think we have to pay for our mistakes. We’re going to make good use of this course and learn something,” said a repentant Piquet.

Back to top

THE GREENEST CAR?

More and more drivers are switching to more environmentally friendly vehicles because of the potential savings on fuel, vehicle excise duty and even congestion charges. Years ago smaller, more frugal cars generally did not have the occupant protection afforded by larger, more expensive cars but that is no longer the case as European crash resistance regulations have become stricter.

If you want to check which vehicle out of 14 different categories has the lowest CO2 output there is now a new information source, jointly created by the Department of Transport and What Car? magazine, that you can refer to: 
www.dft.gov.uk/actonCO2

Back to top

SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

Ford Active Suspension
Introduced on the new Mondeo model, Ford’s new Interactive Vehicle Dynamic Control system automatically adjusts the suspension damper control to match road conditions and driver preference. Seven sensors – one on each wheel and three additional ones, measuring acceleration pitch and roll, allow the dampers to be adjusted for optimum performance ten times every second.

Ford’s vehicle dynamics manager says: “The system enhances dynamic stability, particularly under critical driving situations, and works with the car’s other safety systems to reduce braking distances by up to 10 per cent on rough roads.”

More Volvo safety systems
Volvo is once again pushing the envelope when it comes to safety systems.

At the end of 2007 a system combining Driver Alert Control (DAC) and Lane Departure Warning will be available on V70, XC70 and S80 models as a £500 option.

Rather than monitoring driver behaviour, the DAC system relies on input from a camera, sensors and control unit, which collectively monitor the relationship between road markings and vehicle position. The LDW system uses the same components to monitor unexpected lane departures and Volvo research has indicated that this system alone could help to prevent 30 to 40 per cent of crashes caused by single vehicle lane departures resulting in head on collisions.

Stability Control really makes a difference
New research, undertaken by the insurance research establishment at Thatcham on behalf of the Department of Transport, confirms that cars equipped with Electronic Stability Control are 25% less likely to be involved in fatal collisions, which equates to 380 unnecessary fatalities annually. We think all business drivers should be persuaded to think ‘If ESC is an option, fit it’.

Back to top

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

From this issue onwards we will be featuring a different member of the Drive & Survive head office staff. In this edition we focus the Spotlight on Customer Services Manager Jay Wilson.

How long with Drive & Survive? Too long! Over 8 years now.
Job function: Customer Services Manager.
Any amusing instances whilst at work? Too many to remember.
Home town: Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
Where were you born? Liverpool.
Partner’s name? Nicola.
Do you have children, if so how many and names? Two, Amy and Mya.
Hobbies/interests: Watching football, listening to music and reading.
Do you speak any foreign languages? Does Scouse count!
Do you play any musical instruments? No.
Favourite film? The Godfather Trilogy.
Favourite music/band? Prince.
Favourite food? Steak & Chips.
Favourite shop? HMV.
Favourite sport? Football.
Do you watch or take part in the above? I only watch now.
Location of your last holiday? Brussels.
Your dream holiday location? Ghana.
Your favourite city visited so far? Brussels.
Favourite TV programme? Match Of The Day.
Favourite book? The Lord of the Rings.
What car do you normally drive? Ford Focus.
Do you think the motorway speed limit should be raised? Yes.
Do you think raising the driving age limit from 17 to 18 will help? No.
Do you agree with pay-per-mile road pricing if road tax was abolished? No.
What aspect of bad driving most annoys you? Tailgating.

Back to top

IRRESISTABLE OFFER

How about this for anybody wishing to get the maximum bang for their buck when going ‘cash for car’?

Another great deal from our friends at AFL.
http://www.drivesurvive.co.uk/redirect_AFL.asp

Back to top

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM OUR TRAINING MANAGER

Position your vehicle for maximum vision, which in turn will allow you to make the safest decision.

Most ‘untrained’ drivers have ‘cricket pitch vision’.  They look only about 20 metres ahead, whatever speed they are travelling at.  Try to alter where you look to encompass far (as far as you can see), middle and near distances.  And don’t forget the mirrors, of course!  Drivers rarely crash into things they have seen, so the more visible you can make yourself, the less likely you are to be hit.

A car is like a suit of armour. In our armour we don’t feel threatened by the likes of cyclists and motorcyclists (because at first sight they can appear to resemble pedestrians) and our brains overlook or ignore the information of their presence. Avoid being the driver who says, “I’m so sorry, I just didn’t see him” by always looking at least twice at junctions.

The low sun in autumn and winter can pose real problems of visibility and severely reduce the distance one can see ahead. The problem is exacerbated if the inside of the vehicle’s windscreen is coated in a film of grime so make a point of cleaning it regularly.

Back to top