Road evaluations for light vehicle drivers
94% of light vehicle accidents result from unsafe driving behavior by one or more drivers.1 To prevent accidents, drivers demonstrating unsafe driving behaviors should not be hired. Existing drivers should be periodically evaluated to ensure their skills and driving behavior have not deteriorated. Unsafe drivers should be removed from driving duties or coached and monitored more closely.
Road evaluations, also known as road tests or ride-along evaluations, are essential tools for identifying drivers with unsafe driving behavior.
Who needs a road evaluation?
- New drivers: As part of the hiring process to ensure they are qualified.
- Existing drivers: When changing to a larger vehicle with different handling characteristics or special equipment.
- Existing drivers: At least twice a year.
- All drivers should be evaluated. Exceptions should not be made for experienced drivers, as they can develop bad habits or drive aggressively due to overconfidence.
Evaluation best practices
- Qualified evaluators: Road evaluations should be completed by individuals with advanced knowledge and skills in safe driving and accident prevention.
- Evaluators can improve their knowledge by reviewing their state’s driver manual and using resources like Nationwide’s driver training website.
- Evaluation forms: Use a road evaluation form to ensure key skills are evaluated and appropriately documented.
- Set courses for new drivers: Establish a course covering likely driving situations: city, rural, residential, expressways, merging, backing, etc. This ensures equal evaluation for all candidates.
- Normal routes for existing drivers: Evaluations along their normal route are usually adequate.
- Advance notice: Inform drivers in advance about the evaluation to avoid making them nervous or mistrustful.
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It is risky to assume an experienced driver with a good driving record is a safe driver. Road evaluations should be completed on all drivers. |
Key items to look for
- Our sample road evaluation form outlines driver procedures/situations to be evaluated.
- Key driver behaviors to evaluate include:
- Defensive driving: Watching for mistakes or unsafe driving of others.
- Focused attention: Limiting distractions and focusing on driving duties and the forward roadway. Limit glances away from the forward roadway to less than 1.5 seconds at a time. 2
- Safe following distance: Maintaining a minimum of 3 seconds for sedans, minivans and small SUVs; 4 seconds for pickups, large vans and large SUVs; and additional time for larger vehicles.3
- Safe speed: Adjusting speed and following distance based on road, weather and traffic conditions.
- Intersection approach: Approaching intersections with caution, examining cross traffic and being prepared to stop.
- Adequate space: Ensuring there is enough space/gap when entering the roadway, changing lanes, merging or turning.
- Outside influences: Identifying factors like inadequate time between appointments or managers expecting drivers to answer calls while driving.
Correcting unsafe driving behavior
- Post-evaluation review: Discuss deficiencies after the evaluation to avoid distracting the driver.
- Find a safe place to park to review the driver’s performance.
- Praise: Reinforce safe behavior by praising what the driver does well.
- Specific examples: Provide specific examples of unsafe behavior and discuss expectations: “At the intersection of Cliff and 3rd street you raced to get through a yellow light. When approaching intersections where the light has been green for a long time (stale green light) you should anticipate the light might be changing and be prepared to stop.”
- Demonstration: Have the driver demonstrate correct behaviors, such as maintaining proper following distance.
- Training materials: Assign training materials to reinforce safe driving concepts. Click here for Nationwide’s driver training resources.
- Follow-up evaluations: Perform follow-up evaluations for drivers with poor driving habits.
- Documentation: Document road evaluations, corrective measures, and training completed.
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Positive coaching generally works better than criticism. Start by pointing out what a driver does well. Explain why a specific behavior/action is unsafe and discuss how changing it will keep them safe. |
Commentary driving
Commentary driving helps develop safe driving behaviors by having drivers verbalize their thoughts related to possible hazards while driving. Examples include:
- “The red car has just turned on their turn signal, I better slow so they have room to change lanes”.
- “That blue pickup looks like it is going to roll through the stop sign, I need to cover my brake and be prepared to stop”.
- “The road is getting icy; I better slow and increase my following distance”.
Commentary driving trains the mind to be looking for hazards and to respond accordingly. Many fleet safety managers use commentary driving when conducting ride-alongs to ensure the driver is identifying hazards and thinking through appropriate actions.
Drivers of passengers
Drivers transporting passengers as part of a service should be evaluated on additional factors such as:
- Pre-trip inspection: Including safety equipment and lift inspection.
- Safe pickup and drop-off: Selecting safe locations.
- Passenger assistance: Helping passengers get in and out of the vehicle
- Safety belts: Ensuring passengers use safety belts.
- Wheelchair lifts: Safe operation and proper wheelchair securement.
- Distractions: Safely managing passenger distractions.
Our Driver Evaluation Form includes a second page geared specifically for drivers of passengers.
Implementing regular road evaluations and addressing unsafe driving behaviors are important steps in maintaining a safe and efficient fleet. By prioritizing driver safety through thorough evaluations, continuous training, and corrective measures, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and ensure the well-being of their drivers and the public. Remember, a proactive approach to fleet safety not only protects your assets but also fosters a culture of responsibility and care within your organization.
1 NHTSA: "Crash Stats: Critical Reasons for Crashes Investigated in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey"
2 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2013). Visual-Manual NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for In-Vehicle Electronic Devices (Federal Register Vol.78, No. 81)
3 CMV Driving Tips - Following Too Closely, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and most state driving manuals.