Fleet Driver Skills: Training module overview

This page describes the content of each of the training modules within the Fleet Driver Skills course. There are 34 modules to choose from. Purchasing Fleet Driver Skills gives you access to all the modules but you can hide modules that aren’t relevant to your drivers.

Driver health and safety

Attitude

• The psychology of accident risk
• Road rage – what to do, how to identify causes
• How attitude affects driver risk
• How our behaviours are influenced behind the wheel

Drugs and alcohol

• Accident statistics for drug and alcohol use and the implications for a person’s career and personal life if caught using drugs or alcohol and driving (including penalties and fines)
• The blood alcohol limit and whether it’s possible for a driver to find out if they are under the limit
• What methods do the police use for testing drivers for drugs and alcohol
• Rules for using medication and driving including when a driver needs to consult a doctor and what effect medication can have when used with alcohol.

Mobile phone use

• Accident statistics for mobile phone use and the difference between using a hands-free and hand-held phone, and talking to a passenger while driving
• Legal requirements for mobile phone use while driving
• Making and receiving calls and texts on a phone while driving, plus options to deal with phone calls while on the road
• Rights to make emergency calls while driving
• Employer responsibilities for employees using mobile phones

Fatigue

This module can be used to help study for Unit Standard 24089 outcomes 1 and 2.

• Identify different symptoms of tired driving
• Identify different causes of tired driving
• Explain how to mitigate the effects of driver fatigue
• Risks related to age and driving time
• Employer responsibilities for helping drivers with fatigue
• Features of accidents caused by sleep deprivation.

Driver health & fitness

• How diet, health and fitness affect your ability to drive
• Medical standards for commercial drivers, including eyesight certificates
• Driver’s responsibility versus employer’s responsibility
• Stress and its effect on driving

Vehicle setup

• How to get the optimum position for driving, giving maximum control, safety and comfort
• Setting wing mirrors the rear view mirror correctly
• Seat belts and headrests

Crashes

• Common causes and consequences of collisions and accidents, and how to avoid them
• Examples of collisions and consequences including who is at fault
• Social costs of collisions
• What to do if you have been involved in a collision
• Strategies for avoiding a collision at intersections

Carrying goods

• Safe carrying of items in your vehicle – where to put them, how to secure them
• Carrying pets

Driving rules and the road code

Essential Road Code knowledge to ensure drivers know the road rules – this is especially useful for overseas drivers who didn’t have to take a New Zealand licence test, or for drivers that passed their New Zealand licence test more than 5 years ago. The road rules questions in the company/fleet section don’t contain questions related to learner or restricted licences.

Licence endorsements

Heavy vehicle: All questions for classes 2 and 3-5 for heavy vehicles for the learner licence test, and including additional content to broaden coverage of specific rules

Carrying passengers: Support P endorsements and covers best practices for driver courtesy and passenger safety

Advanced driving

Distractions

• How to identify and avoid distracted driving
• Not becoming complacent when driving
• Improving concentration

Drive to the conditions

• Awareness of how conditions, situations and other road users affect driver safety
• Excessive speed vs inappropriate speed – choosing the right speed
• Impact of speed on accident severity
• Following distances and dealing with weather conditions and road types
• Roadworks and gravel roads, plus identifying slippery road surfaces

Anticipation

• Scanning and anticipation for reducing fuel costs and accident risks
• Identifying distracted drivers
• Building your safety bubble
• Easy ways for drivers to improve their safety

Fuel efficiency

• Tips and techniques for economical driving, saving fuel and reducing the environmental impact of driving
• Operating costs for vehicles
• Picking the most economical speed and driving habits
• Typical fuel usage for different vehicles

Braking

• How ABS works
• Braking techniques and distances
• Assessing braking distances in bad weather and when towing

Vehicle control

• The system of vehicle control
• Gap selection
• Reaction times
• Identifying risky drivers

Night driving

• Night-time risks
• Weather issues
• Advantages and disadvantages of driving at night

Vehicle safety

Safety technology

Understanding how to take advantage of vehicle safety technology, including modern technology found in vehicles such as rear cross traffic alert, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, traction control, electronic stability control, etc

Tyre & wheel safety

• Keeping your tyres and wheels in top condition
• Important tyre checks
• Identifying tyre problems

Crash testing

• How crash testing works
• What you should look for in a vehicle
• How airbags work

Heavy vehicle training

Truck fuel economy

• Essential tips and tricks for reducing the amount of fuel used.
• Complements SAFED training as either an excellent introduction or refresher course.