Driving is likely the riskiest activity that every Emergency Driver undertakes as part of their duty.

Many individuals learned to drive and passed their tests years ago, but as with any skill, there is always room for improvement. To develop effective and efficient defensive drivers for the newly acquired ambulance and the existing one at VALCO, the Management of Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) contacted the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to organize a 3-day defensive driver training programme for their staff. A total of 17 participants from the Company’s Hospital and other departments took part in this training programme. They received both classroom and field instruction, and were assessed on the following driving skills:

Following the assessment:

• 7 participants achieved a passing score of 70% or higher.
• 5 participants scored 60% and above, indicating an average performance.
• The remaining participants scored below average.

Many drivers seldom take refresher training courses after obtaining their driver’s licenses. As a result, some participants encountered difficulties during the assessment. Nonetheless, the programme was highly successful, with most participants expressing gratitude for the quality of the training. Ultimately, 12 participants were certified as effective drivers upon completion of the 3-day Training Programme.