The more time drivers spend behind the wheel, the higher the likelihood of a crash. As roads become busier and drivers accumulate more miles, it becomes increasingly important to know how to avoid accidents and adapt to changing environments.
This is especially true for pharmaceutical sales representatives, who spend more time on the road than the average driver and face the added challenges of time constraints and job demands.
One study published in the journal Occupational Medicine looked specifically at the health issues facing pharmaceutical sales representatives. The study concluded that due to some of their specific job challenges, these drivers are at a greater risk for crashes than the general population.
The study found that pharmaceutical drivers in a company vehicle had a 49% greater chance of being involved in a crash. The study concluded that proper training — which includes learning more effective driving habits — helps reduce the number of crashes each year.
Part of the increased risk for crashes comes from the higher-than-average number of miles driven. While the typical driver in the U.S. logs between 12,000 and 15,000 miles a year, pharmaceutical fleet drivers often put in an additional 8,000 to 10,000 miles behind the wheel. Each additional mile increases their odds of having a crash — particularly if they aren’t equipped with the proper driving skills.
The study also noted that certain factors repeatedly contribute to crashes for pharmaceutical fleet drivers, particularly:
- Risk-taking or aggressive driving
- Stress (either on the job or in their personal lives)
- Use of medications such as antidepressants, pain relievers and antihistamines
Of course, common threats for all drivers also include distractions both inside and outside the vehicle, fatigue, and changing weather conditions.
The Right Rx for Pharmaceutical Drivers
Like many other professions, pharmaceutical sales reps prioritize specific tasks over driving. Their primary responsibilities are making sales calls and meeting with prospective customers, with driving simply being a means to facilitate these activities.
Due to their busy schedules and time pressures, pharmaceutical reps often resort to multitasking while driving, which can lead to unsafe driving habits and an increased risk of accidents. The study revealed that most crashes were attributed to driver behavior rather than time pressures or external factors.
Creating Safer Drivers
Driving behavior doesn’t change overnight and, without the proper tools and training, drivers will default to old habits. Creating greater safety behind the wheel begins with driver safety training that identifies and addresses individual behaviors that lead to unsafe driving.
For example, the study on pharmaceutical workers found distinct differences between the behaviors of older and younger drivers. Mature drivers are less likely to take risks behind the wheel. Women and men handle driving conditions differently, with men having a greater number of crashes and also having more severe crashes than women.
Addressing individual driving habits helps drivers recognize and correct risky behavior they may not even realize could put themselves and other drivers at risk.
While any kind of additional driver training is going to have some benefit, there’s no substitute for advanced behind-the-wheel training combined with consistent follow-up training via eLearning. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), implementing a good driver training program is an effective way to reduce the number of employee-involved crashes.
Not only do such programs save lives, but they also protect companies from financial hardships caused by the direct cost of the crash as well as any third-party lawsuits or medical payments associated with it. The cost of a single nonfatal on-the-job crash costs companies an average of $40,000, while fatal crashes cost more than 10 times that amount, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).
What to Look for in a Driver Training Program
While there are many options for driver training, it’s best to look at companies that have worked with industries similar to yours. They’ll know some of the specific challenges facing your industry and have solutions to help drivers overcome those challenges.
Other things to look for in a driver training program are:
- Teach training that really works. Smith System courses combine classroom training with behind-the-wheel instruction.
- Testimonials. What do other companies they’ve worked with have to say? What kind of results have they seen?
- What does follow-up training look like? Smith System not only offers classroom and behind-the-wheel training but also provides an extensive eLearning catalog. Our catalog features hundreds of courses on a variety of topics, all available to stream from anywhere.
Nothing can take the place of great driver training, and nothing is as important for pharmaceutical fleet drivers to have the right tools to manage the conditions on the road around them. Investing in driver safety is one of the most important things you can do to protect your drivers, your customers, and your company assets.
