Fleet FAQ? Fleet Safety & Risk Management

Q. I’ve read a lot about how dangerous road rage is for drivers and others on the road. What tools can I give my drivers so they’re not driving mad?

A. First, acknowledge that driving can be annoying and frustrating. Second, give your drivers a full toolbox of techniques they can use before they get on the road to keep them calm, cool, collected, and safe in the moment when they feel their tempers rising.

Here are some practical techniques you can give your drivers so they can remain calm and safe on the road:

• Collect yourself.Tell your drivers to avoid climbing behind the wheel if they’re agitated or upset—which could transform day-to-day driving aggravations into the fuel for emotionally charged, risky driving. Instead, advise your drivers to wait before they climb behind the wheel, take a deep breath, or go for a walk.
• Listen to music.The power of music to improve our emotional state is well known. Advise your drivers to create a “good mood” playlist prior to getting on the road. Singing along to feel-good tunes will take the sting out of being stuck in traffic, but emphasize that that they need to keep their eyes and minds on the task at hand — driving.
• Get a good night’s sleep. While drowsy driving is a well-known cause of distracted driving, not getting enough shut eye can also affect your mood, making you irritable and short tempered. Encourage your drivers to practice good sleep hygiene and aim to get between seven and eight hours of sleep per night.
• Plan ahead. To avoid the frustration of a daily commute or sales route, have your drivers revisit the time they’re leaving in the morning and, certainly, as the fleet manager, continually review daily, fixed routes to optimize travel time, particularly if the set route has varying times of lighter and heavier traffic.
• Focus on driving. Emphasize to your drivers that the best thing they can do to avoid road rage is focusing on the task at hand, in this case driving. This will help to keep their emotions at bay and means not worrying about getting to the meeting or appointment on time if they’re stuck in traffic or other drivers are acting like “jerks.”