Driving for Work: Mythbusters
52 common misconceptions – and the facts employers and drivers need to know
Myth 10: Minor incidents aren’t worth investigating
Minor incidents are precisely the ones most worth investigating, because they offer the chance to understand and address risk before something more serious occurs.
Every collision, however small, represents a point where controls failed.
Investigating minor incidents reveals patterns: the same junction, the same time of day, the same driver behaviour.
A structured investigation of all incidents, regardless of severity, allows employers to understand root causes and take corrective action.
Many fatal collisions are preceded by a pattern of minor incidents that were overlooked. Every incident is an opportunity to learn and prevent something worse.
Driver takeaway:
Report every incident, however minor, including near misses. Your report could prevent a serious collision for a colleague on the same route or junction.
Manager takeaway:
Investigate all incidents regardless of severity. Build a blame-free reporting culture so drivers feel safe coming forward.
Patterns only emerge when small incidents are recorded, and patterns are what allow you to intervene before something fatal occurs.
