Greetings, Fleet Safety Sleuths!
At NTSI, we are always looking for fresh ways to keep fleet safety programs relevant, engaging, and rooted in the real world. Defensive driving is not just about knowing the rules—it is about applying sound judgment when the unexpected shows up on the road. Whether you oversee two vehicles or two hundred, your drivers face daily split-second decisions that can impact safety, schedules, and your bottom line.
So, let us sharpen those decision-making skills and test your instincts with a little game we like to call…
🎯 “What Would You Do?” Fleet Edition 🚚🕵️♂️
Your delivery driver, Terry, is approaching a stale green light in a busy urban intersection—one of those classic high-risk zones where traffic patterns can shift in a heartbeat. The speed limit is 35 mph, and Terry is traveling just slightly over at 38. Traffic is light, but there is a sedan tailgating aggressively behind the company vehicle. As Terry nears the intersection, the light turns yellow. There is just enough time to make it through—but just barely.
🤔 What would a good defensive driver do?
What you do in this moment speaks volumes about your training, your mindset, and your company’s fleet safety program.
Let us break it down.
🚫 Bad Defensive Driving (Do Not Try This at Home… or at Work)
Terry accelerates, aiming to beat the yellow. The fleet vehicle clears the intersection—but the sedan behind them does not. That impatient driver follows too closely and clips a vehicle making a legal left-hand turn on a green arrow. Suddenly, there is a crash, an insurance claim, possible fleet liability, and a driver out of commission. Not to mention the PR, downtime, and risk of injury.
This kind of impulsive, reactive driving is exactly what a well-designed fleet safety program aims to correct. It is not just a bad habit—it is a risk multiplier.
This is a textbook example of what defensive driving training for fleet drivers helps prevent.
✅ Good Defensive Driving: Think SAFER
Terry notices the green has been lit for a while and anticipates a change. As the light turns yellow, Terry gently eases off the accelerator, allowing the vehicle to come to a smooth, professional stop. The sedan behind them may be irritated—but Terry’s vehicle, the company’s fleet vehicle, remains safe, visible, and in compliance.
There is no near-miss.
No incident report.
No vehicle downtime.
No call to the insurance adjuster.
Just clear-headed, proactive driving, exactly what your fleet safety program should be building through regular driver training.
This is the kind of daily decision-making that Fleet Safety Managers strive to instill—and what NTSI’s SAFER model is designed to reinforce:
🔑 S.A.F.E.R. Means:
- S: Safer – Drivers prioritize caution over convenience, choosing safe decisions over risky shortcuts.
- A: Aware – They scan their environment, anticipate hazards, and understand their vehicle’s limitations.
- F: Focused – No distractions. Hands on the wheel. Mind on the road.
- E: Educated – They are trained in real-world, defensive driving scenarios tailored to fleet operations, from intersections to inclement weather.
- R: Responsible – They understand the ripple effects of their choices and take ownership of every mile.
🧠 Tuesday Tip Takeaway
A yellow light is not a command to speed up, it is a cue to assess and respond with calm, calculated awareness. Your fleet drivers make dozens of decisions like this every day. A comprehensive fleet safety program supports them with the training and mindset to make the right call.
The difference between a near-miss and a no-incident day often comes down to how well your team has been trained. A solid fleet safety program instills confidence, consistency, and control.
💬 Share this Tip! What would YOU do? Use this scenario in your next team safety meeting. Ask your drivers what decisions they’ve made that helped avoid an incident—or what lessons they’ve learned the hard way.
Your stories can help strengthen your fleet safety program and might even appear in a future Tuesday Tip! 🚛💬
Stay SAFER out there!
