Total Marketing Qatar (TMQ) field staff have started using vehicles fitted with on board computers to monitor driver behaviour. This approach is adopted for the light vehicles used by Total’s field staff where they can use only vehicles with specifications of anti-braking system (ABS), dual airbags and high level of maintenance for business purposes to ensure positive contribution to road safety within Qatar.
Total also ensures that all contractors, engaged for delivery of products are pre-qualified to meet its stringent requirements and the vehicles deployed by them for delivery of products within Qatar conform to stringent technical specifications such as vehicles to be equipped with on board computers/GPS to track and monitor driver behaviour, tubeless tyres with a minimum tread depth of 2mm and ABS to name a few.
These vehicles are vetted annually by the Health Safety Environment and Quality department and in case of deviations they are prohibited from being used.
Total realises that driver behaviour plays an important role in increasing road safety and hence all drivers are trained in defensive driving once in two years. A specialised two-day training is organised for product delivery drivers where they are exposed not only to preventive driving skills but also knowledge on products so they are able to react immediately in case of emergency, thereby mitigating the impact. The training also involves Incab monitoring by an experienced driver who guides drivers from time to time.
The driver behaviour is monitored based on information from on board computers. The observations are analysed by a dedicated and trained team on a daily basis and any violations are addressed with drivers and their progress is tracked.
An annual competition ‘Driver’s League’ is organised for drivers of contracted vehicles to reward and promote safe driving. Parameters such as good results in Incab monitoring, driver training, on time medical examinations, reporting of near misses contribute to positive scores in drivers league and those such as overspeeding, harsh breaking, harsh acceleration, etc contribute to negative score. The top drivers in the league are recognised and rewarded on an annual basis, thus setting a performance standard for positive driving behaviour. For employees, the driving performance is monitored and integrated in their performance management.
These initiatives have allowed us to maintain our safety results of “0” accidents resulting in no loss of property or injury in the last two years of driving over three million kilometres.
The Peninsula
