The Future of Driver Training: Integrating Non-technical Skills

Non-technical skills (NTS) have been defined as the cognitive, social and personal resource skills that complement technical skills and contribute to safe and efficient task performance. NTS are more general than technical skills and can be applied to a range of tasks and procedures (Flin, O'Connor & Crichton, 2008). Examples of NTS are conscientiousness, communication, rule compliance and workload management. In response to growing evidence highlighting the key role of NTS in safe and effective performance, RSSB undertook a research project to develop, pilot and evaluate NTS training courses and other reinforcement activities for front line staff and their managers.