DT Driver Training has launched what it says is New Zealand’s first road rage awareness course for professional drivers, as fleet operators face increasing pressure to manage safety risks on public roads.
The online course, Road Rage Awareness for Professional Drivers, is designed to help drivers recognise their own triggers, reduce the risk of provoking other road users, and respond safely when another driver turns aggressive.
DT Driver Training general manager Darren Cottingham says the programme was developed in response to growing concern from fleet operators.
“We kept hearing from fleet managers that road rage was becoming a real issue for their drivers, but there was nothing available that took a professional driver’s perspective,” Cottingham says.
“This course fills that gap. It is not about telling drivers to calm down, it is about giving them skills they can actually use when the pressure is on.”
The course also reflects employers’ legal obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, which requires businesses operating vehicle fleets to manage foreseeable workplace risks. For professional drivers, aggressive encounters on public roads qualify. DT Driver Training says road rage incidents can expose companies to wider liability, particularly if situations escalate, are recorded, or result in injury.
The programme covers a range of scenarios, from everyday driving frustration through to more serious confrontations. It includes guidance on how off-the-job stress can influence behaviour, identifying habits that may provoke other drivers, de-escalation techniques, managing situations where drivers are being filmed, and appropriate reporting procedures following an incident.
The course takes around one hour to complete and costs $35 plus GST. It is available online across multiple devices and includes a certificate of achievement, with users able to repeat the training within a six-month access period.
DT Driver Training says the programme supports drivers across a range of sectors, including light vehicle, van, ute and heavy vehicle operators, as well as those working on or near roads in roles such as traffic control, construction and utilities.
Fleet operators can enrol multiple drivers and track progress through the company’s e-learning platform.
