SENDAYAN: Daihatsu (M) Sdn Bhd (DMSB) hosted its first Drivers Safety Training Programme recently at Hino Total Support Customer Centre (HTSCC) in Sendayan, Negri Sembilan.
The programme was conceptualised exclusively for Daihatsu fleet customers through the recently launched Daihatsu Business Fleet Programme.
The programme is a collaboration between DMSB and Yamato Transport (M) Sdn Bhd (YTM) and the partnership leverages both companies’ safety-related experiences and capabilities from Japan and Malaysia by incorporating a driving aptitude test (DAT).
The DAT assesses the driver’s personality, safe driving behaviour, danger perception, speed estimation, selected reactions and steering wheel operations.
At the moment, YTM is the only training provider in Malaysia that incorporates the DAT psychology method into any road safety training.
DMSB managing director Arman Mahadi said: “Road safety is something that we take seriously at Daihatsu, and together with YTM, we believe the Daihatsu Drivers Safety Programme will benefit our customers as well as others on the road.
“Safer driving behaviour begins with the drivers themselves, and we hope that this training will raise awareness on the importance of being safe on the roads and how to ensure that they play their part.”
Road fatalities dropped by 6.3 per cent last year, but the number of accidents rose from 533,875 in 2017 to 548,598 last year.
A report issued by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) revealed that 80 per cent of accidents were caused primarily by human error.
The full-day programme was divided into three segments: theoretical classes, daily vehicle inspection routine and practical circuit training. Muhammad Fahmi, senior manager of DMSB corporate planning, product and marketing said: “By providing the right driving training and helping drivers identify road hazards and different elements that may cause accidents, we want to create and sustain a mindset of safer driving behaviour throughout the country.
“We hope that this will also assist companies in increasing their efficiency and productivity as they are more aware of how to optimize their vehicles to the best of their benefit.”
DMSB and YTM have plans to further develop and enhance the programme to achieve their goal of encouraging safer driving habits in Malaysia.