A new guide is now available to help fleets identify driver stress and take action to reduce it during the coronavirus pandemic.
Written by Dr Lisa Dorn, research director at behavioural driver safety programme DriverMetrics, the guide sets out that the speed and scale of the impact of the pandemic is having a serious effect on mental health for some individuals. This includes people turning to alcohol as a method of coping with stress.
It also urges fleets to be aware of the stresses and strains on different groups of professional drivers, including in the emergency services and those carrying out home deliveries, and especially watch out for the effects of fatigue on driving.
Dr Dorn also warns that the empty roads may be a trigger for high-speed driving as fleet drivers complete deliveries, and she sets out a number of areas of guidance for fleets and drivers.
Dr Dorn said: “We are going to be living and working in the context of Covid-19 for a sustained period. For many people, driving for work will be even more stressful than ever before, as a range of anxieties and concerns distract drivers. Thankfully, there is a large body of research that can help us to identify the signs of driver stress and to take steps to reduce it.”
‘Covid-19: A Guide for Fleet Managers’ is now available via free download on the DriverMetrics website at: https://resources.drivermetrics.com/covid19/
