Jacobs is one of the world’s largest providers of professional technical services, with a global workforce of more than 50,000 employees. After reviewing the number of road incidents and near misses that its drivers had been involved in over four years, the organisation began working on a targeted and systematic approach to improving road safety.
Jacobs worked with Applied Driving Techniques (ADT) to design, implement and maintain a new driver safety management system. ADT audited and analysed the risks associated with Jacobs’ fleet. Based on its findings, a control structure was implemented to eliminate risk factors, substitute them with low-risk alternatives, or take action to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.
“Jacobs achieved a 34% reduction in collisions in the first year of its partnership with ADT and a further 46% reduction in the second year. It has also seen a significant reduction in high-speed collisions.”
This policy took a fresh approach to driver safety management and focused on four key areas:
- Eliminate – The safest journey is the journey not taken
- Reduce – If a journey must be made, reduce the time spent driving
- Control – If driving is required, ensure that they journey is properly planned and that the driver(s) understand the risks and are properly trained
- Protect – Ensure the vehicle being driven is safe and fit for purpose
This approach is consistent with the requirements of health and safety regulations and provides the most effective framework for managing driver risk.
In 2019 Jacobs implemented new services to enhance the driver safety management system. These included virtual reality training modules, more in-vehicle training and piloting ADT’s driver behaviour measurement technology and training to address risky driving behaviour as it occurs.
Jacobs achieved a 34% reduction in collisions in the first year of its partnership with ADT and a further 46% reduction in the second year. It has also seen a significant reduction in high-speed collisions – Jacobs employees have travelled over seven million business miles without a collision above 9mph in two years.
Acknowledging the success of its partnership with ADT, Jacobs has introduced the driver safety management system as company best practice. The ADT-powered system is now operational in more than 40 countries and is being used by around 25,000 business drivers.
Jacobs is still striving to reduce the number of miles that are driven on its behalf, but it recognises that driving cannot be eliminated completely from its operations. Its approach is one of cultural change allied to a policy of continuous improvement that contributes to a well-trained and competent workforce that drives safely.
Jacobs and ADT were highly commended for the Fleet Safety Partnership Award in 2019. This award recognises the partnership of a fleet service provider or operator with another organisation that has delivered the most outstanding results to improve fleet safety.
See more previous winners.
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