Driving is often the most dangerous work-related activity for many people and, of course, for many may be the main purpose of their job. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2020 traffic accidents are among the main causes of death globally.
Road traffic injuries are the eighth leading cause of death for all age groups and are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years. More people now die as a result of road traffic injuries than from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis. In total approximately 1.35 million people are killed as a result of road traffic accidents every year and between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury. These injuries cause considerable economic losses to individuals, their families, and to nations as a whole. WHO believe that road traffic accidents cost most countries around 3% of their gross domestic product.
Drawing on best practice from around the world GDC has developed a global standard for safe driving. While many countries use some form of driving test to assess driving competency before granting a driving licence, basic licence acquisition driving tests can’t cater for the vast range of vehicle performance, vehicle sizes, new technology and human factors that drivers are exposed to in their driving life. GDC’s driving standard goes beyond basic competency in vehicle control to encompass attitudinal and behavioural factors that have been shown in the last 20 years to have a significant influence on a driver’s likelihood of having a collision.
Driver training organisations vary greatly in terms of size, location and course content so GDC’s standards for driver training organisations focus on how the organisation is managed and the key business processes required to manage driver training effectively. These are set out as performance areas:
- Business Management Processes
- Quality Control of Course Content and Delivery
- Course Administration
- Trainer Management
- Training Infrastructure
- Effectiveness & Impact