Delivery drivers face significant danger while doing their job. In 2019, 83 drivers died while working, and another 8,020 experienced injuries. Heavy equipment truck and trailer operators experienced over 43,000 injuries in 2020.
Drivers need to build unique skills to do their jobs effectively. But trying to build those skills while behind the wheel can be dangerous and costly. Traffic crashes alone cost business owners $72.2 billion in 2019.
Implementing a driving simulator can improve delivery drivers’ safety with training that doesn’t require getting into a vehicle.
Four Common Dangers Faced by Delivery Drivers
Explore some of the everyday dangers delivery drivers face, as well as how a few sessions of our driving training course can eliminate some of those risks.
1. Blind Spots
All vehicles have blind spots, but delivery vehicles often have wider blind spots than passenger vehicles. Some trucks and vans have such significant blind spots that the driver can’t see other commercial or passenger vehicles nearby.
Wide blind spots can be problematic when trying to back a delivery truck out of a driveway or parking spot and when changing lanes or making turns.
Tip for Safer Driving
Help your delivery drivers get accustomed to delivery vehicle blind spots in a safe environment. Our DeliverySim™ offers a visually accurate 180-degree field of view, allowing drivers to feel like they're behind the wheel in a fully immersive experience.
You can create different scenarios, like driveways and parking spots, where your drivers need to practice backing up a truck. Helping drivers get used to the difference between passenger and delivery vehicles' blind spots decreases the risk of accidents.
If a new driver is struggling, DeliverySim™ gathers data you can use to provide feedback and additional training.
2. Quick Turns
It’s not uncommon for a delivery driver to realize a turn is coming up faster than expected, especially if they’re in an unfamiliar area. Instead of finding an alternate route, many drivers will attempt to make a quick turn, increasing the risk of an accident. A driver could lose control of the vehicle, turn so sharply that it tips over, or run into an oncoming vehicle.
Tip for Safer Driving
Drivers need to get used to driving a larger vehicle. Using a simulator like DeliverySim™, which includes training for different delivery vehicles, shows drivers what it’s like to handle the vehicle they’ll use to make deliveries. Requiring every new driver to undergo training with a driving simulator can help them build the skills they need to drive larger vehicles safely.
3. Sudden Stops
When a driver’s focus is on the delivery or another factor, they might not realize how quickly a stop is coming up. As a result, drivers often make abrupt stops, increasing the risk of being rear-ended.
Tip for Safer Driving
Have both new and experienced drivers go through several simulated trainings involving sudden stops resulting in collisions. Since a simulated experience doesn’t cause harm to any company property or the team of drivers, it’s a safe way to break the habit.
4. Other Drivers
Sometimes other drivers are the problem, rather than the delivery driver. Some drivers stay close to delivery trucks and move into their blind spots.
If a driver feels a delivery truck isn’t moving quickly enough, they may try to navigate around them. This kind of aggressive driving can make it difficult for the delivery driver to maintain control over their vehicle.
Tip for Safer Driving
Using DeliverySim™, create a variety of scenarios that involve other drivers to encourage your team to practice in a controlled environment. Our fleet driver training offers a variety of programmable scenarios, including different weather, road, and traffic conditions.
You can set up delivery drivers to navigate simulated urban, rural, and residential areas to practice being around other drivers, pedestrians, and others on the road. With built-in performance assessment tools like replay and debrief software, the simulator makes identifying and correcting mistakes easier.
Sharpen Your Delivery Fleet’s Skills with L3Harris
By implementing a driving simulator like DeliverySim™, offered by L3Harris, you can protect your drivers and your business while keeping costs under control. Your fleet of vehicles will remain available for use rather than for training, with a lower risk of costly accidents.
Contact us today to learn more about DeliverySim™ and how it can benefit your transportation business.
