Addressing Driving Management Challenges: A Global Perspective with a Risk-Based Approach

Abstract

Despite significant effort to improve safety, driving continues to be the work-related activity with the highest associated risk in the oil and gas industry. Many emerging and developing countries have experienced a rapid increase in the number and diversity of road users that has outpaced corresponding improvement in infrastructure, regulation, and enforcement of driving laws. This has resulted in increasing risk of road incidents, presenting growing challenges for organizations in the management of their global driving activities. Variation in the levels and types of risk between different countries and regions adds to the complexity of effectively managing driving safety. The traditional way that companies manage their driving activities is to apply a corporate standard globally. This involves implementing the same requirements regardless of the level of driving risks in a country or operational location. While this approach provides clear direction, it may not always help to focus attention on high-risk driving situations. To better address the challenges of managing its global driving activities, and take into consideration the variation of driving risks in different locations, an oilfield services company has developed a management approach based on both country and operational risks. This paper presents the company's risk-based driving and journey management approach and reviews how it was developed. It describes how the approach has enabled the organization to improve the effectiveness of managing driving activities in more than 85 countries, including more than 50,000 drivers, 25,000 vehicles, and in excess of 550 million miles driven per year.