83% of neurodivergent people seek help with organisation skills and 78% with time management, so when a new vehicle arrives with the delivery driver expecting a quick handover, it can be inconvenient and confusing, at best. Yet, whether a fleet driver is neurodiverse or neurotypical, the importance of a great vehicle handover is critical. After all, if a fleet driver has not been adequately told how their new vehicle operates, they will not get the best out of it. This lack of knowledge could even affect road safety.
Are vehicle handovers keeping pace with technology?
Vehicles are getting more complicated. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and increasingly sophisticated infotainment technology have crept into cars and vans. As vehicles advance technologically, though, are vehicle handovers keeping pace and what should a great vehicle handover look like for all drivers?
In a recent Venson survey over three-quarters of motorists (78%) said they would like their car provider to spend more time with them, helping them to understand the essential safety-critical technology in their new vehicle.
Getting the basics right
The AFP has already done sterling work creating its Dealer Standard. This outlines the ‘soft skills’ essential to professional vehicle handovers. For instance, giving drivers advance notice of a delivery and not inconveniencing them by expecting to give the delivery driver a lift back to the station. It also outlines essential mandatory physical or virtual demonstrations on everything from phone pairing to charging an EV.
While much of this sounds like common sense, too many dealers outside the scheme are falling short of basic expectations. In an ideal world, all vehicles should arrive clean, delivery drivers should be able to explain basic functions and they should work around, not disturb, the recipient.
That last point is vital. Nobody wants to have their day’s plans disrupted by an unexpected vehicle delivery, but neurodivergent drivers can find unforeseen events and changing plans on the fly challenging, so an unexpected, inadequate vehicle handover can be especially problematic.
One handover does not fit all
It is also important to remember, whether neurotypical or neurodivergent, everyone absorbs information differently. Not all drivers can navigate the vehicle handbook easily. Add to this the realities of a mobile workforce, with commercial vehicle drivers often hopping in and out of different vehicles, and it is easy to see that fleets need more flexible ways of having information provided for a new vehicle.
That’s why it is so encouraging to see practical, innovative initiatives to help improve vehicle handovers that benefit all drivers within a neuroinclusive fleet. For example, rather than relying on a guidebook, QR codes mounted on dashboards and doors of vehicles can link to videos or documents designed to acquaint a user with whatever is in front of them. The content to which the codes link can be designed to be as concise as possible, with videos typically limited to a couple of minutes and other details kept similarly succinct.
Making information accessible at the point of need
For commercial vehicle drivers where handovers happen on a daily basis, this type of technology can be especially useful. QR codes can be adapted to cover distinct functions or equipment, so while a code in a cab might link to content about driver familiarisation, a separate code on a piece of specialist equipment fitted to the back of a vehicle, such as a ladder loading system, could specifically explain how to operate it.
As vehicle technology advances, handovers are inevitably becoming more complex. Fleets will increasingly need to take advantage of technology like this to help neuroinclusive commercial and car drivers get the most from their vehicles. While the system is not designed specifically for neurodivergent individuals, its provision of information in multiple formats aligns with the principle of universal design, giving drivers greater choice over how they access and absorb information.
Better for neurodivergent drivers, better for everyone
By recognising the importance of a smooth, effective vehicle handover within a neuroinclusive fleet, more fleet operators can explore different ways of sharing information with drivers and push back on dealers who fall short of expected standards. Crucially, many of the adjustments that can make a handover easier for a neurodivergent driver – advance notice, clear instructions, less time pressure and information available in different formats – can improve the experience for everyone.
Vehicle handovers are just one part of creating a more neuroinclusive fleet. Venson Automotive Solutions explores the wider practical steps fleet operators can take to support neurodivergent drivers in its Neurodiversity Part 2 white paper, including how organisations can make policies, processes and day-to-day fleet management more inclusive.