Greetings, Fleet Myth Super Sleuths!
Spring is heating up as it makes its transition to Summer, and so are the half-truths about staying SAFER on the road.
Welcome to our latest round of Fleet Defensive Driving Myth Busters, where we separate fact from fiction in driver safety training. Whether you’re managing delivery vans, utility vehicles, or golf carts, understanding the truths behind fleet defensive driving is essential for reducing collisions and protecting your team.
From freeway folklore to parking lot parables, we have encountered many a myth. At NTSI, we see no reason to keep rolling the same rock up the hill. Instead, we stick to grounded, SAFER driving truths.
Let’s get busting. 🧠 💥 🛞
🕵️♂️ Myth #1: “Golf carts do not need driver safety training.”
❌ Busted:
Just because they are slower does not mean they are safer. Utility vehicles like golf carts operate in complex environments, from university campuses and corporate parks to retirement communities and municipal grounds, where pedestrians, tight turns, and distractions are constant. Without proper training, operators are more likely to misjudge risks or overcorrect, leading to avoidable incidents and sometimes serious injury. Incorporating golf cart and utility vehicle defensive driving into fleet driver training helps reduce injuries, promote safer habits, and reinforce accountability behind the wheel.
🕵️♂️ Myth #2: “Golf cart safety is common sense.”
❌ Busted:
It may look easy, but utility vehicle operation comes with unique risks, reduced visibility, sudden stops, distracted passengers, and uneven terrain. Incidents happen in a flash, especially in pedestrian-heavy areas. That is why golf cart and utility vehicle defensive driving is a critical part of fleet driver training for corporations, universities, parks departments, and retirement communities. SAFER driving means smarter preparation, even at 15 miles per hour.
🕵️♂️ Myth #3: “If a driver has a CDL, they already know everything.”
❌ Busted:
A Commercial Driver’s License is a foundational credential, not a finish line. Road conditions, vehicle technologies, and traffic laws evolve, and so do the patterns behind collisions and near-misses. CDL refresher training and advanced fleet defensive driving courses offer experienced drivers the opportunity to revisit high-risk scenarios, reinforce best practices, and adapt to changing regulations. Ongoing education keeps professional drivers sharp, responsive, and SAFER behind the wheel.
🕵️♂️ Myth #4: “We will never see ROI from a driver safety program.”
❌ Busted:
Behavior-based training is not just a safety measure, it is a strategic investment. Defensive driving efficacy studies consistently show that high-quality instruction reduces collisions, vehicle downtime, insurance claims, and liability risks. Our clients frequently share success stories that underscore the real-world impact of training. If you have not yet calculated the return on investment for driver safety programs, we will help you run the numbers, and show where the benefits begin.
🕵️♂️ Myth #5: “If you can drive a SUV, you can drive a van or box truck.”
❌ Busted:
Not exactly. High-profile vehicles, such as vans, box trucks, shuttles, and utility vehicles, respond very differently than standard cars. With broader blind spots, a higher center of gravity, longer stopping distances, and vulnerability to wind, these vehicles require specialized handling skills. Educational programs focused on high-profile vehicle driver safety help fleet drivers build the situational awareness and techniques needed to operate safely and responsibly under a variety of conditions.
🕵️♂️ Myth #6: “Defensive driving is just common sense.”
❌ Busted:
Common sense is not always common practice, especially behind the wheel. Effective, and efficacious, driver safety training draws from behavioral science, traffic data, and real-world scenarios to modify habits and reduce risk. We do not teach people how to drive, we teach them how to drive SAFER. That distinction matters when the goal is consistent, proactive decision-making that protects people, property, and performance.
🕵️♂️ Myth #7: “Driver safety training improves fleet performance and saves lives.”
✅ TRUE (Yes, we know, technically more truism than myth):
But in a world where shortcuts are common and safety budgets get slashed, this truth often gets treated like a myth. According to FMCSA research, fleets that invest in structured driver training experience nearly 30% fewer crashes per driver. That means fewer injuries, less downtime, and serious savings. Believe the hype, because this one is real.
Fleet defensive driving is not optional—it’s essential. Whether you’re managing high-profile vehicles or utility carts, investing in quality fleet defensive driving education prevents incidents, protects your brand, and boosts your bottom line.
Sometimes the truth is SAFER than fiction.
💭 Got a myth you want us to bust?
Send it our way, your myth could be featured in a future Tuesday Tip.
Stay curious and stay SAFER out there!
