The Council of the City of Sydney in Australia services over 187,000 residents and has approximately 1.2 million people within its boundaries each day for work, travel or leisure. The Council has responsibility for most of the roads within its boundaries. It employs over 1,000 drivers and managers and operates a fleet of 450 motor vehicles, plant vehicles and bicycles.
A Crash Management Strategy was implemented to provide a framework and guidance for improving driving skills and reducing incidents within the organisation. The strategy is supported by senior management and includes all employees driving for work purposes. It seeks to promote a safe systems approach to fleet operations (safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles and safe road use), improve driver knowledge and skills, and develop a zero-crash culture across the organisation.
Measures that have been implemented as part of the strategy include individual assessments for drivers, driver training through group sessions and individual in-cab training, and communication with drivers through staff briefings and internal communication systems.
“It seeks to promote a safe systems approach to fleet operations (safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles and safe road use), improve driver knowledge and skills, and develop a zero-crash culture across the organisation.”
Regular in-house driver training sessions are held, concentrating on driver awareness, particularly towards pedestrian and bike-rider safety.
Crash data is proactively reviewed, to determine trends and causes, and identify targeted areas for intervention.
Following implementation of the strategy, during the period April 2015 – March 2016 there was a 40% reduction in the number of insurance claims and a significant reduction in claims costs.
An Eco Driving Strategy has also been implemented and a Low-risk and Eco-driving Handbook introduced. This is part of the Council’s commitment to a reduction in carbon fuel use, and the handbook is given to all staff who drive on work purposes.
Staff are required to sign it to show they have read and understand what is expected of them.
(AUS) 02 9265 9333