Smith System is the Leader in Professional Driver Training

Our Testimonials

Duke Energy Gas Transmission

Here is a sample of the employee testimonials that were voluntarily provided by several Smith System Instructors and employees who completed the training in 2005.

Instructor - Michael Winslow, Burrillville, RI
"When I found out I was going to attend the Smith System driving school, I went to the company's web site and learned they claimed their system would make a significant dent (no pun intended) in the accident rate of any company that used it. I'm generally open-minded, but since in my experience all the driver education I've received as an employee of AGT and DEGT has been pretty much the same stuff in different packages, in the back of my mind I remained skeptical."

"But I think I can speak for the group when I say that I was blown away by the defensive driving concepts that were presented and demonstrated by our highly skilled and professional instructor, Kevin Constantine, whose enthusiasm for the system was contagious. When all of our employees have been trained and begin applying what we learned, there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't see an overall 50% reduction in our accident rate that the Smith people say is typical."
"That was the best school I have ever attended since working here and I've been having fun all week applying what I learned. When on the highway, I no longer "fight" traffic and instead I "go with the flow" in relaxed mental state that I like to call “Zen driving meditation”. "

I don't know who originally contacted the Smith people, but the training they provide is exactly what we needed to reverse our spiraling accident rate.
Mike had this to say after 6 months of driving the Smith System:
“Personally it's meant a major difference in my own driving habits. I'm much better at keeping my head up and maintaining plenty of distance between my vehicle and the one ahead of me and I no longer react abruptly when I see brake lights come on ahead. It's also become second nature to avoid traveling in groups or getting boxed in on the interstate.
I now cringe when I see vehicles traveling down the highway in close formation at high speeds, but I'm usually far enough away to avoid flying parts should one of the drivers suddenly hit his brakes. And best of all, I no longer fight traffic as I've learned to flow with it instead, so driving-related stress has been all but eliminated.

While use of the Smith System can't guarantee that we'll eliminate all preventable accidents at DEGT, their frequency should be significantly reduced so long as employees continue to apply what they've learned.

Instructor - William Barnes, Cromwell, CT
"I read Mike Winslow's comments and I agree with him completely! It was a great school and it should really help with reducing accidents company wide. Kevin is an excellent instructor. Going in I had no idea what I was in for, and also a little apprehensive about being an instructor myself. Coming out I feel I have a very good understanding of the System and with a little more study and preparation will be ready to start training other employees."

Instructor - Andrew Langille, Fredericton, NB
“I agree 100% with the comments presented. It was a very good week."

Instructor - Michael Rezendes, South Plainfield, NJ
“I'm grateful for the opportunity the Company gave me to become a Smith System Driving Instructor. I believe in the Smith System and I want to pass it on. Also, I would like to mention the instructor I had, Kevin Constantine was fantastic. He kept the week long class informative as well as interesting. He gave us tips on how to become future great driving instructors. One of the requirements he shared with us was that the Smith's driving instructors are required to give their demonstration of the Smith Driving System in front of there fellow instructors once a year. Then they are judge by there fellow instructors on how well they stick to the five keys of the Smith System and also as to how good they are as instructors. I think this might be a good idea to try in DEGT in order that we might keep the integrity of the Smith System intact and to promote better instructors in serving our people”

Comments from employees Mike had trained:

Instructor – Henry J. Reese, Division Safety Rep, Harrisburg, PA
“Duke Energy Gas Transmission (DEGT) employees travel approx. 15 million miles per year and on average are involved in 24 Preventable and 23 Non-Preventable Vehicle Crashes per year. After experiencing a six year high of 54 total Vehicle Crashes, resulting in a Vehicle Accident Rate of 3.32 (# of incidents/100,000 miles), DEGT made the decision to aggressively investigate “why” we were having so many vehicle crashes and “what” was causing our employees to the make mistakes when driving our fleet vehicles. After close examination, it was identified that the nationally recognized video based defensive driver training course we were utilizing was proving ineffective, therefore, other driver training was sought out. The training that we would eventually adopt needed to parallel DEGT’s focus on safety in building a “Zero Incident Culture”. The DEGT Leadership Team recognized the Smith System Training Course in the Principles of Space Cushion – No Accident Driving was just “what the doctor ordered” in developing and improving our employees driving skills.

We had 45 employees trained as Smith System Instructors in the beginning of 2005 and required all field employees assigned vehicles and employees who operate company vehicles be trained in the Smith System Principles by years end.

From a statistical point of view, it may too early to gauge the effectiveness of the Smith System or, what impact it has made in reducing the number of vehicles crashes we have every year but, the Smith System Principles have had a lasting impression on our drivers. It has been several months since we started training our field employees and they are still talking about the “5 Keys”, there are very few training programs that have been this well received by so many employees.

In my professional opinion, the Smith System is the only training that truly stands by what it claims; “…to study and master techniques that are essential to understanding driver behavior. With a focus on collision prevention through hands-on training, the proven Smith System concepts help fleet drivers to see, think and react to driving challenges”. The Team of Smith System Driver Trainers that trained our trainers were excellent, well prepared, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic and “lived” the Smith System. The wide array of training aid materials available for refresher training are excellent tools in keeping the Smith System fresh for all of our employees. We purchased several videos and the Drive Alive Series for use during our Monthly Safety Meetings that are held at all of our field locations. Tim Marshall, our Smith System Corporate contact was very responsive to any question and assisted in obtaining all of the training material for approx. 1000 employees. Thanks Tim!

I am proud to be associated with such a high quality organization like the Smith System. Thank you and keep up the Good Work.”

Henery J. Reese
Duke Energy Gas Transmission


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