Sponsored content: Sandra Macdonald-Ames, risk practice lead for fleet at Gallagher Bassett, explores how hidden factors in driver behaviour can be used to reduce claims and improve safety
Fleet operators are investing heavily in telematics, artificial intelligence and vehicle monitoring systems, yet one of the largest contributors to fleet risk remains unchanged – driver behaviour.
Technology can show when speeding, harsh braking or other incidents occur. What it cannot always explain is why those decisions are being made.
Fatigue, workload, shift patterns, time pressure, workplace culture and operational expectations can all influence how drivers behave on the road. This is where many businesses need more support.
Most drivers know how to operate a vehicle safely. The more important question is why a capable driver still chooses to rush, take an unnecessary risk or continue driving when fatigued.
Those decisions rarely occur in isolation. They are often influenced by delivery expectations, workload pressures, financial stress or a culture where people feel unable to speak openly about fatigue and workload. If we only focus on the behaviour itself, we risk missing the factors that created it.
Practical solutions
For clients with fleet risk exposure, Gallagher Bassett’s fleet risk services are designed to uncover these underlying factors and turn insight into practical action.
Gallagher Bassett utilises a behavioural profiling tool which assesses seven factors known to influence road risk – safety management, fatigue, angry driving, compliance, time pressure, risk awareness and driver confidence.
The assessment takes around 15-minutes to complete and can help businesses identify risks that may not yet be visible through claims data alone.
The purpose of profiling isn’t to label or penalise drivers. It’s about understanding where support may be needed. If one driver is showing signs of fatigue risk, coaching may help.
If fatigue is appearing across a workforce, the conversation shifts towards workload allocation, shift patterns, time on task and operational demands.
This insight-led approach allows Gallagher Bassett to help clients better understand the connection between claims trends, driver behaviour and workplace conditions. Depending on the risk profile, support may include post-collision coaching, hazard prediction training, policy reviews, claims analysis, site visits, workplace observations, tailored training or operator licence support.
We combine behavioural profiling with audits, site visits, workplace observations, face-to-face advice, coaching and tailored training to build a more complete picture of risk. The objective is to understand the causes of risk and develop lasting behavioural change.
Behavioural risk
For fleet operators, the commercial case is clear. Unsafe driving can increase claims frequency and severity, disrupt operations, affect employee wellbeing, create compliance exposure and damage reputation. However, businesses that address behavioural risk proactively can take more control over these outcomes.
By the time a claim occurs, the risk has already materialised. The strongest results come when businesses use intelligence led data and direct engagement to identify risk before it escalates.
Gallagher Bassett helps clients connect claims information, behavioural insights and operational data to make better-informed decisions. By combining consultancy, coaching, risk reviews, claims analysis and targeted interventions, we support fleet operators to move from reacting to incidents to proactively managing risk.
Every fleet is different. Effective risk management is not a one-size-fits-all exercise. It is about understanding the client’s operations, identifying the factors driving risk and applying practical interventions that improve safety, reduce claims and deliver long-term operational benefits.
- To find out more about Gallagher Bassett’s risk consulting solutions, click here
