Risk Management Employee Training Course – Dean's Defensive Driving School

Risk Management & Employee Training

Dean's on-the-road observations revealed that nearly 4,000 drivers operating company-branded vehicles in the Greater Toronto Area were close to causing at-fault collisions between January and September 2024.

We collaborate with fleet safety managers and senior staff to ensure that our defensive driver training programs align with your budget framework.

Discover how we can improve driver operations standards, saving you time and money

The Average On-The-Job Collision Can Cost An Employer

$ 15,000 - $ 50,000

In Vehicle Damages

$ 50,000 - $ 100,000

For An Injury

$ 300,000 +

For Catastrophic Injuries

Our Risk Management and Employee Training program is designed to equip your workforce with advanced driving skills that meet industry safety standards, reduce liability, and improve overall operational efficiency. We provide customized training for employees, ensuring they adhere to risk management protocols that minimize accidents and protect your bottom line.

Our Ministry of Transportation licensed instructors hold three separate licenses: one for in-vehicle training, one for classroom instruction, and a third for Defensive Driving Courses and Driver Improvement under the remedial program. All instructors bring 35 or more years of expert collision avoidance experience. Our program covers defensive driving, collision avoidance, and compliance with Ontario’s driving regulations. Upon successful completion, your employees will receive official documentation, demonstrating their competence and commitment to safe driving practices. Additionally, they will receive personalized driving assessment reports, along with strategies to lower the risk of collisions and reduce downtime in business. This not only lowers insurance costs but also ensures that your team operates safely and responsibly on the road.

To ensure your employees are driving responsibly during their workday, especially when operating company-branded vehicles, spot-checking can be an effective strategy. While GPS tracking and apps provide valuable insights into location and routes, they cannot fully discern poor driving behaviors such as harsh braking, speeding, or distracted driving. Regular in-person monitoring of driving habits, particularly in vehicles marked with your company’s decals, reinforces accountability and promotes safe, professional behavior on the road.

These checks help ensure that your employees uphold your company’s standards, reduce the risk of accidents, protect your brand’s reputation, and maintain public trust. By proactively assessing driving performance, you can identify areas for improvement, provide timely feedback, and ensure compliance with your risk management and safety protocols.

I have been training employee drivers for years, and unfortunately, many drivers tend to revert to dangerous habits if employers do not consistently monitor and manage an ongoing biannual driver training program. This ongoing training is essential for reinforcing safe driving practices and preventing regression into risky behaviors.

Is One Time Training Enough?

Repeatable driver training for employees across Ontario is a structured program designed to enhance driving skills and safety awareness in the workplace. This training is crucial for organizations that rely on employees to operate vehicles, ensuring consistent, high-quality instruction that meets provincial regulations.

Technical Tracking of Drivers and Vehicles vs Professional Eyes

Technology tracking of employees is not an efficient method for reducing collisions. The many variables in the analytics related to safe driving practices mean that even the most advanced technology cannot comprehensively identify what a driver may encounter on the road. For this reason, it’s essential to have a set of professional eyes assessing the hazards that drivers and vehicles face on a daily basis.”

Technology cannot accurately track behaviors, in-vehicle distractions, or the complex sequence of conditions that are present just before a collision occurs. While data can provide insights into certain driving patterns, it does not capture the full scope of human factors and situational nuances that contribute to accidents.

Key Components of The Program Include

A comprehensive, repeatable curriculum that covers essential driving skills, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance, tailored to the specific needs of the organization.

Ongoing evaluations to track employee progress, identify areas for improvement, and reinforce safe driving practices.

Practical, real-world driving experience under the guidance of certified instructors, ensuring employees are prepared for various driving conditions.

Driving spot checks are proactive, random inspections conducted by employers, fleet managers, or safety organizations to ensure that drivers are adhering to safe driving practices and that vehicles are operating in optimal condition. These checks are vital for preventing accidents, promoting road safety, and ensuring compliance with company policies regarding safe driving.

Emphasis on defensive driving techniques, hazard recognition, and emergency response to minimize risks and promote a culture of safety.

Training can be delivered in various formats, including in-person sessions, online modules, in-vehicle training, spot checks or a combination, allowing organizations to choose the best fit for their workforce.

Factors Contributing to Rising Operational Costs Due to Motor Vehicle Collisions

Our roads and expressways are seeing an alarming rate of near-collisions. Many drivers lack the necessary skills, leading to increased risk on the road.

Dangerous driving habits are prevalent, including:
- Running red lights and amber lights.
- Unsafe lane changes.
- Unsafe left and right turns
- Dangerous lane changes, and weaving through traffic
- Road Rage
- Speeding 30-40 km/h over the speed limit in 80 km/h zones.
- Driving without headlights at night.
- Driving too slowly in the left lanes.
- Over-reliance on vehicle technology.
The list of Highway Traffic Act (HTA) violations is staggering and growing.

Distracted driving continues to be a significant issue:
- Drivers looking down at their laps or holding mobile devices.
- Hands-free Bluetooth conversations and texting while driving.
- Eating, drinking
- Emotional upset
These distractions lead to slower reaction times and an increased likelihood of accidents.

Many drivers travel familiar routes to work, shopping, and recreation, leading to boredom or mental zoning out.
Drivers' minds often wander to worries and other issues, causing a lack of focus on the road.

There is a noticeable lack of law enforcement on the roads, which contributes to an increase in violations and risky behavior.

There's a pressing need for more professional driving instructors and more detailed testing standards for all road users.
Improved education and training are essential to reduce accidents and improve road safety.

Changing weather patterns, such as sudden downpours, gusty winds, and heavy snow, create hazardous driving conditions, particularly in high-density cities.

The rapid expansion of cities has put significant strain on existing road infrastructure, resulting in longer commute times and more time spent in traffic.

The availability of vehicles capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 2-5 seconds presents a serious hazard when driven by individuals who are not properly trained.

Many drivers are not adequately taught how to effectively use vehicle technology. Senior technicians and sales staff at dealerships often struggle to explain the limitations and conditions under which drivers should switch to manual mode.

Mental health concerns have been increasingly recognized, but there has been little improvement in addressing these issues, which can affect drivers' focus and behavior on the road.

Most drivers neglect to perform daily circle checks on their vehicles. This lack of maintenance can lead to breakdowns or accidents, particularly when vehicles are in a dangerous state.

With cannabis now legalized in certain quantities, its presence on the streets is more noticeable. The smell of cannabis is detectable outside businesses and residences, and impaired driving remains a significant risk to road safety.

More people are choosing to live and work in cities. Due to the lack of affordable housing, more people are living in single-dwelling units, leading to greater congestion on the roads.