OREANDA-NEWS. A collaboration between the world’s largest network of training institutes launches a new online road safety training tool, paving the way for greater road safety, more efficiency and ultimately, for saving lives.

Today at an International Seminar in Dubai on Improving Road Safety and Trade Facilitation in the Arab Region (LAS-IRU-AULT), the Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST) together with UK’s Cranfield University and IRU Academy launched their unique educational project.  ‘Road Safety at Work: Online Course for Managers’ is designed to give managers and businesses the skills needed to deliver and sustain a robust road safety management strategy.

Patrick Philipp, Head, IRU Academy said: “We are excited about the first universal digital training course for managing fleet safety. We are confident that this course will offer managers the knowledge necessary to instill a culture of road safety awareness within their companies.”

He added “This course complements the portfolio of IRU Academy road safety driven programmes such as Crash Prevention aimed at commercial drivers.”

Reducing the risk of commercial vehicles and public transport globally could play a very significant role in cutting road fatalities and achieving the targets of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. Evidence has shown that businesses that adopt a thorough approach to driver safety can also benefit from less damage to vehicles and goods, reduced insurance, better staff retention and a significant reduction in working time lost through accidents.

Dr Mark Sullman, Senior Lecturer, Cranfield University (UK): “Driving is the riskiest work-related activity so it is vital that those in the industry manage road safety as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

The course is accessible online 24/7, is affordable and has no geographical boundaries. Through a series of 10 video lectures, quizzes and reading materials, the training uses real-life examples and case studies to give those who manage road safety at work the competencies and skills they need to safely manage a fleet of vehicles - awarding them at the end with an certificate of completion.

Dmitry Sambuk, Managing Director, EASST Academy said “We at EASST believe that road safety training and education are extremely important. This new online course, produced together with Cranfield University and IRU Academy, will have the advantage of being low cost and yet will enable managers across the world to acquire competencies in basic skills of safe and efficient fleet management.”