Smith 5Keys® | Smith System UK

Safer Driving Starts
with the Smith5Keys®

Every driver makes hundreds of decisions behind the wheel. The Smith5Keys® is the behavioural framework that turns those decisions into consistent, safer habits. Five foundational principles, refined over 70+ years of driver training, that have made Smith System the global leader in driver safety and given more than half the Fortune 500 the safety results they can measure.

For fleet managers and companies, The Smith5Keys® translate into fewer collisions, reduced liability, and improved driver performance across the board. By standardising safe driving behaviours throughout the workforce, organisations gain measurable cost savings, stronger compliance, and a culture of safety that protects both people and business outcomes.

Picture of blue truck on road with smaller picture of driver outside white truck

For Safer Operations  at Every Scale

The Smith5Keys® scales from a single vehicle to a global fleet, from long-haul trucking to last-mile delivery. The behaviours that make an HGV driver safer are the same behaviours that protect a field service engineer, a minibus driver, a last-mile delivery rider. The same framework, spoken in the same language, delivers measurable safety improvement across every operation.

Key 1

Aim High
in Steering®

Our eyes are designed to work for us at walking speeds.
The average person has not adjusted visually or mentally to the higher speeds of motor vehicles.
Look ahead to where you will be at least 15 seconds into your future.
A 15-second eye-lead time provides advanced warning and gives you an additional margin of safety.
Use improved eye-lead time for more efficient and economical driving.

Key 2

Get the
Big Picture®

While scanning ahead, do not forget the sides and rear.
Consistently update your information.
Check at least one of your mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds.
Do not focus attention on insignificant objects.
Stay alert to the relevant information that can assist you in making well-informed decisions.
Eliminate visual barriers by establishing proper following distance.
Stay far enough behind other vehicles to obtain the visibility necessary to make your own decisions.

Key 3

Keep Your
Eyes Moving®

Focusing on any object for too long diminishes your peripheral vision.
Scan all intersections before entering them.
Keep your eyes moving every 2 seconds.
Eye activity stimulates the brain. An active mind is better able to resist the effects of fatigue.
Avoid distractions in your vehicle and your thinking.
Recognise and avoid drivers who seem distracted.

Key 4

Leave Yourself
an Out®

The safest position in traffic is with few or no vehicles around you.
When possible, surround your vehicle with space.
Choose the proper lane and adjust speed accordingly to maintain your space cushion.
If you lose part of the cushion, work to keep at least the front and one side open.
Avoid tailgaters. When one is present, the collision potential is high.

Key 5

Make Sure
They See You®

Detect the presence of potential danger early.
Send your warning signals as soon as you think they will be recognised not too soon or too late.
Seek eye contact by using the warning devices on your vehicle.
Do not take eye contact for granted. Be sure your warnings are heeded.
Eye contact is valuable but it is no guarantee against the unexpected.

TheSmith 5Keys®

Safer Driving Startswith the Smith5Keys®

The
Smith 5Keys®

Safer Driving Starts
with the Smith5Keys®