The extra time drivers spend behind the wheel, the upper the chance of a crash. As roads change into busier and drivers accumulate extra miles, it turns into more and more necessary to know keep away from accidents and adapt to altering environments.
That is very true for pharmaceutical gross sales representatives, who spend extra time on the highway than the common driver and face the added challenges of time constraints and job calls for.
One examine printed within the journal Occupational Medication seemed particularly on the well being points going through pharmaceutical gross sales representatives. The examine concluded that as a result of a few of their particular job challenges, these drivers are at a larger danger for crashes than the final inhabitants.
The examine discovered that pharmaceutical drivers in an organization automobile had a 49% larger likelihood of being concerned in a crash. The examine concluded that correct coaching — which incorporates studying more practical driving habits — helps scale back the variety of crashes annually.
A part of the elevated danger for crashes comes from the higher-than-average variety of miles pushed. Whereas the everyday driver within the U.S. logs between 12,000 and 15,000 miles a 12 months, pharmaceutical fleet drivers typically put in an extra 8,000 to 10,000 miles behind the wheel. Every extra mile will increase their odds of getting a crash — notably in the event that they aren’t geared up with the right driving expertise.
The examine additionally famous that sure elements repeatedly contribute to crashes for pharmaceutical fleet drivers, notably:
- Threat-taking or aggressive driving
- Stress (both on the job or of their private lives)
- Use of medicines corresponding to antidepressants, ache relievers and antihistamines
After all, widespread threats for all drivers additionally embrace distractions each inside and out of doors the automobile, fatigue, and altering climate situations.
The Proper Rx for Pharmaceutical Drivers
Like many different professions, pharmaceutical gross sales reps prioritize particular duties over driving. Their main duties are making gross sales calls and assembly with potential clients, with driving merely being a method to facilitate these actions.
As a result of their busy schedules and time pressures, pharmaceutical reps typically resort to multitasking whereas driving, which might result in unsafe driving habits and an elevated danger of accidents. The examine revealed that almost all crashes had been attributed to driver habits quite than time pressures or exterior elements.
Creating Safer Drivers
Driving habits doesn’t change in a single day and, with out the right instruments and coaching, drivers will default to previous habits. Creating larger security behind the wheel begins with driver security coaching that identifies and addresses particular person behaviors that result in unsafe driving.
For instance, the examine on pharmaceutical employees discovered distinct variations between the behaviors of older and youthful drivers. Mature drivers are much less more likely to take dangers behind the wheel. Ladies and men deal with driving situations otherwise, with males having a larger variety of crashes and in addition having extra extreme crashes than ladies.
Addressing particular person driving habits helps drivers acknowledge and proper dangerous habits they might not even notice might put themselves and different drivers in danger.
Whereas any form of extra driver coaching goes to have some profit, there’s no substitute for superior behind-the-wheel coaching mixed with constant follow-up coaching through eLearning. Based on the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Administration (NHTSA) and the Occupational Security and Well being Administration (OSHA), implementing a very good driver coaching program is an efficient technique to scale back the variety of employee-involved crashes.
Not solely do such applications save lives, however additionally they defend corporations from monetary hardships attributable to the direct value of the crash in addition to any third-party lawsuits or medical funds related to it. The price of a single nonfatal on-the-job crash prices corporations a median of $40,000, whereas deadly crashes value greater than 10 instances that quantity, in response to the Nationwide Security Council (NSC).
What to Search for in a Driver Coaching Program
Whereas there are lots of choices for driver coaching, it’s finest to have a look at corporations which have labored with industries much like yours. They’ll know a number of the particular challenges going through your business and have options to assist drivers overcome these challenges.
Different issues to search for in a driver coaching program are:
- Train coaching that basically works. Smith System programs mix classroom coaching with behind-the-wheel instruction.
- Testimonials. What do different corporations they’ve labored with need to say? What sort of outcomes have they seen?
- What does follow-up coaching appear like? Smith System not solely affords classroom and behind-the-wheel coaching but additionally offers an intensive eLearning catalog. Our catalog options a whole bunch of programs on a wide range of subjects, all out there to stream from wherever.
Nothing can take the place of nice driver coaching, and nothing is as necessary for pharmaceutical fleet drivers to have the proper instruments to handle the situations on the highway round them. Investing in driver security is likely one of the most necessary issues you are able to do to guard your drivers, your clients, and your organization property.
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