An advanced driver training programme will be offered in Polish and Russian in a bid to help lower the number of fatal crashes on the country's roads, it emerged today.
With around one in five road accidents involving drivers who are at work at the time, Allianz Ireland has extended its programme to the large number of non-national drivers of commercial, and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) who speak Russian or Polish.
James Gleeson of the insurance company, Allianz Ireland, said: "In terms of road accidents involving work vehicles many involve very simple driver error but when the error involves a ten tonne vehicle or larger, the impact can be very significant in terms of both physical damage and personal injury and fatalities.
"For non-nationals, driving in Ireland is compounded by language difficulties and a different road and signage system."
Allianz has estimated as many as 12,500 non-nationals are provided with access to a vehicle through their employment or are employed specifically as vehicle drivers.
The study has found this is evident in the logistics, distribution and construction sector where many drivers of HGVs are non-nationals — many from former eastern-bloc countries where Russian and Polish are widely spoken.
Mr Gleeson said many non-national drivers face the dual problem of a different language and road driving system. He said in emergency situations many drivers can revert to instinctive training, which may have been for driving on the left-hand side of the road.
He said: "The aim of the Allianz Ireland programme is to assess drivers for any bad habits that they have formed since passing their original test and to correct these via a programme of awareness raising and training. Driving skills should be treated like all skills and effort should be made to constantly improve our abilities."
The programme, which was originally offered in English alone, involves a detailed theory based session that covers rules of the road and best practice driving skills. Drivers are accompanied in the cab for around two-hours during which their skills are assessed.
The report given to the driver's employer highlights good driving skills as well as areas where improvements could be made.
PA