National Highways post-collision training could help save lives on our roads
Post-collision training guide by Rachel Pearson, Key Account Manager and Advanced FORS Practitioner at Fleetmaxx Solutions
When you manage vehicles, drivers and daily schedules, it is easy to focus on prevention. We talk about driver behaviour, maintenance, compliance, fatigue and route planning, all with good reason. Preventing incidents must always be the priority.
However, there is another side to road safety that deserves attention too. What happens in the first few minutes after a serious collision can be absolutely critical.
That is why I wanted to highlight the new free post-collision response training recently launched by National Highways. It is practical, accessible and something I believe many fleets should seriously consider adding to their driver training programmes.
Why this post-collision training matters
Commercial drivers cover huge mileage across the UK every single day. Van drivers, HGV operators, service engineers and delivery teams are often among the first people to come across a collision scene before the emergency services arrive.
National Highways has highlighted that more lives could potentially be saved if bystanders are able to give safe, basic assistance while waiting for professional responders.
This post-collision training is not about expecting drivers to become emergency medics. It is about helping people stay calm, make good decisions and understand what they can safely do in those vital early moments.
Sometimes knowledge is not dramatic. Sometimes it is knowing what not to do, where to stand, how to call for help properly, or how to protect yourself and others from further danger.
What post-collision training course covers
The online programme takes less than an hour to complete, which makes it realistic for busy fleet operations.
It is broken into three short modules covering:
- Making an effective 999 call
- Dealing with danger and protecting the scene
- Providing basic first aid awareness
- Understanding personal safety at all times
- Staying calm under pressure
That is a lot of value packed into a short training session.
Why fleets should pay attention
For operators, this is about more than ticking a box. It is about building a safer driving culture.
Drivers who feel prepared for unexpected situations are often more confident, more aware and better able to manage stressful incidents. It also sends a clear message that your business takes duty of care seriously.
In my experience, the strongest fleets are not simply reactive. They prepare for the moments nobody wants to happen.
Road risk management still starts before the collision
While post-collision training is important, the real goal is always reducing the chance of incidents happening in the first place.
That is where structured road risk management becomes essential.
Driving for work remains one of the biggest risks many organisations face. Whether you operate vans, HGVs, company cars or grey fleet vehicles, risks can include:
- Driver distraction
- Fatigue
- Speeding
- Poor journey planning
- Vehicle defects
- Weather and road conditions
- Operational pressure and deadlines
Without proper systems in place, these risks can quietly build over time.
How our consultancy partners can help
At Fleetmaxx Solutions, our transport consultancy partners can support operators with practical road risk management services designed for real working fleets.
This includes help with:
- Driver risk assessments
- Road risk policy reviews
- Incident reduction strategies
- Compliance support
- Driver safety frameworks
- Collision investigation support
- Continuous improvement planning
Many of our specialist partners bring real-world experience from roads policing and incident investigation backgrounds, which means advice is practical, grounded and based on what genuinely causes collisions on UK roads.
Supporting drivers after an incident
Even with the best systems, incidents can still happen. When they do, speed of response matters.
We also help fleets access solutions such as our Vehicle Claims App, designed to simplify reporting, reduce delays and help businesses get vehicles back on the road faster.
For busy operators, smoother claims handling can save time, reduce stress and improve communication after an already difficult event.
