Shell is an international group of energy companies that relies upon multiple forms of transport, including road transport.
Collectively, Shell Group’s employees and contractors drive an average distance of one billion kilometres every year, travelling across more than 70 countries for tasks ranging from fuel delivery to transporting people and equipment.
Driving-related crashes are the single largest cause of deaths among International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) member company operations. For this reason, road safety has long been a priority for Shell Group. Since introducing its first global driver safety programmes in 2008, there has been a significant decline in fatal road crashes across the Group.
Defensive driver training
Shell Group’s road safety approach focuses on driver skills and behaviour, as well as the condition of the vehicle, road and local environment. It is supported by its global road safety standards, with guidance for drivers, vehicles and journeys, and a range of road safety programmes.
An example is the defensive driving course, which teaches safe driving techniques and behaviour, with an overall aim of reducing risks. All employees that drive more than 7,500km/4,660 miles per year (or 1,875 km/1,165 miles per quarter on company business) and all drivers working in high-risk countries are expected to undertake the in-vehicle defensive driving course.
In addition, Shell Group has introduced the Driver Behaviour Indicator (DBI) for its drivers, to help monitor and mitigate the impact of driver behaviour. This is an online assessment programme that uses a questionnaire to profile likely driver behaviours and collates a detailed report on each driver’s potential attitude at the wheel. This information is then used to tailor the driver training, delivered via six e-learning modules and targeting specific driver behaviours.
“The DBI promotes self-awareness in drivers, helping them to reflect on how their driving behaviour may increase their risk on the road and suggesting potential solutions.”
Conclusions
The DBI promotes self-awareness in drivers, helping them to reflect on how their driving behaviour may increase their risk on the road and suggesting potential solutions. The assessment process is continuously under development to prevent examiner bias from having too much influence over driver responses.
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