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Total recently launched a full-day defensive driving course for its women employees and contractors as part of its mandatory safety culture programme. |
The training takes place every two months in co-ordination with Karwa Transport and Training Development Centre. More than 10 employees have attended this session, which focused on implementing driving safety best practices.
The participants took part in both theory and practical sessions and were coached on how to reduce driving risks by anticipating situations and making safe, well-informed decisions. The practical course consisted of slaloming, obstacle avoidance, emergency braking steering and practice driving.
Road accidents have been a major cause of fatalities in Qatar and defensive driving aims to reduce that by training attendees to use caution and judgment. The course covers the different causes of crashes and how to avoid them. It also focuses on the ways to overcome psychological factors such as road rage and emotional distress that can affect driving, as well as human factors such as driving under the influence of banned substances.
Along with the practical session, the course touched on the dynamics of a crash and different types of collisions. The importance of wearing the safety belt was continuously stressed as it is the most effective safety equipment in the event of a crash.
The training was well-received, with Hend Hassan, an employee at Total, saying: “It was a very informative and interactive session, with all driving rules and regulations explained to us, in addition to using real-life situations that can lead to dire consequences. We were also informed about crash prevention techniques and how to avoid the different psychological factors that can negatively impact one’s driving such as stress, fatigue and emotional distress. Overall, we will develop a positive attitude while driving to increase our focus.”
“At Total, safety always comes first and we provide all our employees and contractors with the necessary tools and training to keep themselves safe at home and work and on the road,” said Mohamed Basser, health, safety and environment manager at Total E&P Qatar. “The defensive driving course is very important as it gives participants the skills to identify hazards on the road and stay alert and focused behind the wheels in all driving conditions.
