Risk Management is Easy… Pinpointing it is Hard
Robert Donahue
Senior Director, Commercial Leader, Government, Lytx, Inc.
Don’t tell the guys behind the actuarial tables, but managing risk is as much an art as it is a science. It’s also an art made easier because of science.
By using a safety program to pinpoint risk, companies can improve driver retention and other factors along the way.
First Identify Risk, Then Focus on Changing Behavior
A sound safety program helps identify drivers on the roster whose behavior can put themselves and others at risk. Companies often find that a small percentage of drivers is responsible for a large percentage of their risk. By helping those drivers improve, risk managers can greatly reduce the likelihood of a collision in their fleet and empower drivers to retain their jobs.
Through driver coaching, an effective safety program helps drivers become more skilled and more aware of their actions, and it ultimately propels them to the next level of safety and professionalism.
Because coaching is constructive and collaborative, drivers are receptive to suggested changes. As a result, employers incur less driver turnover and can reduce the dollars spent on recruitment and training. Driver coaching sessions present an opportunity for risk managers to sharpen their drivers’ skills. But it’s also wise for managers to have a conversation with drivers about their critical role at the company and explain why a policy exists.
Managers don’t often go into detail about the real costs of collisions or the widespread impacts associated with them. Having those conversations with drivers, explaining why policies exist, can help drivers feel part of the team and give them a vested interest in doing what’s right for the company. The more valued you make your drivers feel, the more loyal they become to the company. And you’ll see their behavior change on the road.
An Effective Safety Program Changes Perspective as Well as Behavior
Through a sound safety program, drivers also become aware of their own behavior, especially with a video-based safety program that allows them to see their own actions at the wheel. By showing drivers evidence of their own actions, managers can change drivers’ perspectives, making them keenly aware of their own driving habits.
Apart from time-consuming activities such as ride-a-longs, you’re not going to be able to get that information without video.
By: Robert Donahue
Senior Director, Commercial Leader, Government, Lytx, Inc.
Summary of Qualifications
Rob Donahue has been working in the Fleet Management space for over 11 years with TomTom, Networkfleet, Inthinc and Lytx. Rob holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Westfield State University and is currently a Senior Director and the Commercial Leader for the Government practice at Lytx, a San Diego based company providing video based driver risk management that uses analytical data to help risk identify and reduce risk.
With Lytx, Rob has the pleasure of working with Federal, State, and Local organizations such as The City of Denver, City of Atlanta, Fairfax County, VA, City of Baltimore, MD, US Marine Corps and the US State Department. With these organizations the Lytx DriveCam solution has proven to reduce risk, protect the reputation of these organizations and their employees, reduce costs and most importantly save lives.
Rob also has experience as a fleet driver having spent 6 years as an EMT in the Greater Boston area.
Responsibilities
Rob manages a sales team that focuses exclusively on Government accounts. The team assists clients on lowering driver risk by changing behavior. This is done by providing insight and consulting on change management with in the clients organization, from identifying risk, driver acceptance of a camera based telematics solution, uncovering ROI, and assisting with the Government procurement process.
Business Experience
Rob has over 20 years of sales experience with software, hardware, and services. He has lead teams at industry leaders Intuit, TomTom, and now Lytx (formerly DriverCam). Rob has lead efforts in bringing products to market and developing new and emerging markets for existing products. Rob also spent 6 years as an Emergency Medical Technician in the metro Boston area.
Professional Affiliations
Rob is a member of or spoken at national events for Solid Waste Association of North America, PRIMA, Government Fleet Expo, Airports Council International - North America, and Municipal Waste Management Association.
Education
Westfield State University
B.S. Criminal Justice
