Driving for Work: Mythbusters
52 common misconceptions – and the facts employers and drivers need to know
Myth 51: It’s quicker to skip the walkaround check when I’m in a rush
Daily pre-use vehicle checks are a legal requirement for commercial vehicle operators and a fundamental safety practice for all at-work drivers.
The few minutes spent checking tyres, lights, fluid levels, mirrors, and load security can prevent a breakdown or collision that would cause far greater delay, as well as potential injury or death.
Employers must make clear that walk-round checks are non-negotiable, regardless of time pressure.
Where drivers are consistently skipping checks due to scheduling pressure, that is an organisational issue that must be addressed.
A defect identified before a journey is always better than one discovered on the road.
While a safety-critical defect could put the driver at risk, even a more minor defect could leave the driver stranded causing a major headache to arrange recovery and business disruption due to missed deliveries or appointments.
Driver takeaway:
A walkaround check takes a few minutes. A breakdown, a collision, or a prohibition notice takes hours, days, or worse.
Manager takeaway:
Make walkaround checks non-negotiable and build adequate time for them into driver schedules. Where drivers are consistently skipping checks due to time pressure, the problem is not the driver, it is the schedule.
Defect reporting must be acted on promptly and visibly, or drivers will stop bothering to report.
