E-learning as a Driver Development Tool and entry level ...

Abstract 

E-learning as a Driver Development Tool and entry level Organisational 

Compliance Strategy 

Mr Scott Lewin 

RACQ Drive Assist, The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) 

Fleet safety is becoming a priority for businesses with fleets, needing to be more 

compliant with WH&S legislation. Organisations need to look at fleet safety 

holistically and long term not as a one off intervention, this can be achieved by 

implementing a solution that best works for their operations, within their own 

industry group. Fleet solutions that work for one organisation may not 

necessarily work for another, however some components need to be consistent, 

including an accurate analysis of the fleet through a risk assessment process. 

Just as important as using the correct training and education intervention is to 

ensure each is accurately measured to gauge success of any one, or group of 

strategies. Accurate measurement also assists to ensure compliance requirements 

are met and recorded. 

E-learning has developed as one of those learning tools which can be widely 

distributed throughout a network of employees to share the road safety message in 

a consistent and measurable manner. It has the added advantage of ease of 

updating and use as a filtering tool to determine other “Main Stream” driver 

training solutions which may be required. 

The scope of the work related road safety problem 

Previous research has indicated that work related road safety is an issue often ignored by 

organisations with fleet management practices primarily focussing on asset management, 

core business activity and delivery (Wishart, Rowland, Freeman & Davey, 2011). Recent 

harmonisation of occupational health and safety legislation has highlighted the importance of 

discharging obligations and implementing risk mitigation strategies in relation to vehicle use 

within organisational settings 

While RACQ offers a wide range of services designed to assist the general community and 

organisations in safer vehicle use, this paper will highlight the development and progress of a 

relatively newly designed educational tool, e-learning. E-learning has been designed to assist 

organisations in better educating their work drivers across a wide range of safety topics 

relating to road safety within the workplace setting. The e-learning program has been 

designed as broad based safety and education strategy, which is easily utilised within a wide 

variety of organisational and vehicle operational settings. 

E-learning as a Driver Development Tool and entry level Organisational Compliance Strategy 

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Why RACQ developed its Driver Education E-learning Program 

RACQ has identified driver education e-learning as a tool which, while initially could be 

utilised as an internal resources, had a much wider industry relevance as part of a larger 

driver education solution towards safer drivers within businesses with fleets. 

The Past 

E-learning was initially developed by RACQ for RACQ! It was designed to highlight to 

participants the need to not only be aware of and have an understanding of the road rules, but 

also the ability to recognise their own limitations and the possible limitations of other road 

users. By working through the ‘then 4’ modules: The Driver, The Vehicle, Road Rules and 

Sharing the Road, participants have an opportunity to gain insight into their own level of road 

safety comprehension. 

From its early inception e-learning has been used as a valuable induction tool for drivers 

within many organisations. As a learning and development strategy RACQ decided on a 

number of primary objectives crucial to the development and utilisation of the tool. These 

objectives included: the program needed to be easy to use and represent value to the 

participant and the organisation 

The program could be completed in a timely manner and results obtained needed to be 

measurable, so that the organisation could determine how well any one participant was 

learning and using this information informed training intervention strategies could be 

development and implemented. 

The Present 

The RACQ driver education e-learning tool has undergone a number of recent upgrades and 

updates to better meet end user requirements, these include: 

A revised design strategy has been implemented, enabling the RACQ e-learning tool to be 

useable on a national level. The e-learning tool can now be accessed and used by clients with 

a national resource presence, i.e. the program is designed with Australian Road Rules in mind 

to meet the requirements of any organisation with staff in any state of Australia. Despite 

some minor road rule and user variations between states which still exist, the program can 

now truly be used as a national learning program for drivers. 

In addition to the nationalisation of the program, an additional resource section has been 

added so participants can research for themselves any state-by-state rule and / or regulation 

discrepancies, by using the online resource module within the program. This not only gives 

participants direct access to all of the auto club web sites within Australia, but also access to 

all relevant state transport authorities. 

The e-learning landing page also has the capacity to carry client branding to increase the level 

of familiarity to the user. E-learning currently has 5 learning modules comprising topics such 

as; 


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1. ‘The Driver’ which provides information on what can impact or influence a driver to 

drive in a particular way, which could impact either positively or negatively on 

themselves and / or other road users. Issues such as drugs and alcohol, fatigue, the 

effects of medicines and health conditions, etc are all highlighted as issues that can be 

influenced by the individual themselves. 

2. ‘The Vehicle’, helps drivers familiarise themselves with the vehicles they are driving, 

including how to confidently prepare the cabin and their driving position is a positive and 

comfortable position. This module also touches on what to do and say if the vehicle is 

involved in a crash or simply breaks down. 

3. ‘Road Rules’, this module user’s information gathered by the RACQ, other auto clubs 

and affiliate associations to identify the most commonly miss-understood road rules and 

laws as advised by our members. These include, but are not limited to, areas such as 

parking signs, speed zones, the use of roundabouts, road markings etc. Participants have 

the opportunity to experience an interactive learning environment to refresh their 

knowledge. 

4. ‘Safe driving’, this module looks at many aspects of driving safely and sharing the road 

with other road users, including the correct procedure for mirror setup to minimise blind 

spots, fatigue management and the use of rest stops to reduce driver tiredness, overtaking 

and generally sharing the road with other road users including pedestrians, motorcycles, 

cyclists, heavy vehicles, etc. 

5. ‘People Transport’, is the newest of the 5 modules. It is particularly focused of drivers 

who carry passengers as part of their daily tasks and includes information on their duties 

and responsibilities as the driver of a public passenger vehicle. These responsibilities 

may vary between jurisdictions; however the responsibility for passenger comfort and 

safety remains consistent 

Through working with a number of key organisations and our own business, we have found 

that due to the nature of the e-learning tool, we generally see a high level of competency is 

achieved by users. This we believe could be contributed to the fact that the e-learning, rather 

than being a pure assessment tool, is a learning environment and gives participants every 

opportunity to achieve competency, by allowing them access to the learning information 

while finalising the quiz for that module. Letting them source the answer, if at first it was not 

clear to them from their first reading, this also includes a second attempt at each quiz. 


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The Future 

As learning is an evolutionary process, so too are the tools used to achieve that learning. It is 

proposed that the RACQ e-learning program will continue to evolve to meet not only the 

needs of our client base, but contribute as a valuable tool to road safety and compliance for 

individuals and businesses alike. 

The future of the e-learning tool is towards a greater level of integration, more advanced 

interactive activities and enhanced usability for the participants, generating a true 360 degree 

learning environment, where the user can actually input their own experiences and ideas, 

which will influence (both good and bad) the end experience. 

Another key aspect moving forward is the implementation of a “Compliance Page’. This can 

be used by organisations to determine the driver’s level of understanding of their 

responsibilities when driving a motor vehicle for work, but also their awareness of relevant 

policies and procedures within their organisation. The type of questions which will be asked 

of the participants, before they do the e-learning course itself, will be: 

1. Driver’s Licence 

Question: Do you have a current driver’s licence and relevant endorsements for 

the class’s of vehicles you may be driving for work purposes? Y / N 

Question: Do you understand that you are required to advise your manager 

should you have any special conditions placed on your licence including 

disqualification or restrictions as a result of a health condition? Y / N 

2. Policy and Procedures 

Question: Are you aware and conversant with your organisation’s policies and 

procedures in relation to driving including; Fleet Safety and Vehicle Driving 

Policy, Fatigue Management Policy, WPH&S Policy, use of mobile 

phones or devices etc? Y / N 

3. Vehicle Roadworthiness 

Question: Do you understand that it is your responsibility to advise your 

manager of any vehicle defects, both before you commence your shift and 

after, including any damage? Note: Vehicles must not be driven if they are not 

in a roadworthy and safe condition. Y / N 

4. Log Books 

Question: Are you aware and conversant with your organisations requirements in relation to 

the keeping of vehicle log books (if required)? Y / N 


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5. Insurance and Registration 

Question: To the best of your knowledge is the vehicle you are driving for work currently 

registered and comprehensively insured? Y / N 

6. Previous Training 

Question: Other than this e-learning program, have you participated in any form driver 

training or driver safety awareness program in the past 12 months. ? Y / N 

Utilisation of improved functionality and compliance awareness for the organisation will 

ensure this e-learning tool remains relevant as a driver safety training tool, in conjunction 

with other initiatives and solutions based on an organisations fleet risk profile. 

Conclusion 

It has been our experience, when utilising the e-learning as a base level compliance and 

filtering tool within organisations, they are able to more accurately assess their fleet driver 

risk and determine the most appropriate driver education solution, which fits their business 

and fleet risk profile. 

E-learning is generally not used stand alone as a driver training intervention. It is however an 

excellent starting point to developing a safer fleet environment and improved driver 

behaviours, towards an overall safer driving culture within organisations. 

Continued development of the driver safety e-learning tool is a must, to ensure it keeps pace 

with changes in technology, therefore making the learning experience and pleasurable as 

possible, but to also ensure it has the most up-to-date and relevant content 

References 

Wishart, Darren E., Rowland, Bevan D., Freeman, James E., & Davey, 

Jeremy D. (2011) Driving for work: a series of organisational audit results. 

In Australasian College of Road Safety National Conference (ACRS 

2011), 1-2 September 2011, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 

Melbourne, VIC. 


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E-learning as a Driver Development Tool and entry level ...

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