When fleet safety is discussed, focus generally falls on risks such as fatigue, leaving some of the most damaging habits to receive less attention. In particular, aggressive driving behaviours like frequent rapid acceleration and harsh braking tend to be dismissed as everyday occurrences, yet can have a significant impact on fleets.
For this reason, tracking these behaviours should be a core part of any effective fleet driver training strategy. By spotting and addressing poor driving patterns, organisations will reduce operating costs and lower the chance of incidents, as we’ll show throughout this article.
Harsh braking refers to sudden stopping which goes beyond what normal driving conditions require, with this behaviour stemming from poor anticipation on the road, such as following other vehicles too closely or failing to read traffic conditions ahead. Distractions and a lack of defensive driving also factor into this, in that they give drivers little time to react when a hazard, pedestrian, or obstacle appears unexpectedly.
Harsh acceleration is excessive throttle use when moving away from a stationary position, happening when drivers don’t match the flow of traffic and try to make up for it by accelerating too quickly from junctions or stop lines. In the same context, inattention or distraction means a driver will be slow to recognise developing hazards, resulting in forceful acceleration so as to avoid a potential collision.
Rapid acceleration and heavy braking lead to a negative impact on fleets in a few important areas.
Harsh manoeuvres naturally heighten the likelihood of collisions and injuries for both fleet drivers and other road users. For example, repeated hard braking points to bad anticipation or inadequate following distances, which in turn can lead to rear-end impacts. In larger vehicles, such as HGVs, abrupt braking also contributes to loss of control, entailing similarly serious outcomes.
Aggressive driving implies unnecessary strain on vehicles and fuel efficiency due to how rapid acceleration and harsh braking raise fuel consumption, alongside the fact that such driving places wear on brakes and ABS components, thereby reducing their effectiveness and shortening service life. The end result is more frequent repairs, higher maintenance costs, and an increased risk of mechanical failure.
UK legislation enforces safe driving practices via The Road Traffic Act (which sets expectations for vehicle operation) and the Health and Safety at Work Act (which puts a duty of care on employers to protect their staff). Given these regulations, ignoring frequent rapid acceleration and hard braking therefore leads to compliance breaches, financial penalties, and reputational damage for organisations.
Fleet technology makes it easy to identify aggressive driving patterns and address them. Specifically, GPS vehicle tracking can show how each driver operates on the road, highlighting whether safety standards are being met or if guidance is needed, allowing fleet managers to intervene early and support safer driving habits.
Camera video monitoring further strengthens this approach in that AI dashcams capture driving events and create an objective record of incidents involving harsh braking or acceleration. Reviewing this footage with drivers promotes accountability and gives them clear, practical feedback so that they’ll understand exactly where improvements should be made.
Lastly, telematics systems collect detailed data on speed, idling, as well as fuel usage, meaning managers are, for instance, able to generate reports by vehicle or by driver and track overall fleet behavioural performance for a given timeframe. This data-driven insight enables more informed coaching, better cost control, and continuous improvement.
At MICHELIN Connected Fleet, our fleet management solutions are designed to identify risky driving behaviours and ensure safer, more efficient operations by turning data into action. If you’re interested in how we can benefit your organisation, then be sure to make an enquiry into our services today.