How’s My Driving? - Safe Driving Blog Tips

Driving can be a real challenge for your staff during the winter, especially if they’re carrying heavy loads and are driving for long distances. Here at How’s My Driving? we’ve asked some of our current members to share some key advice to help keep your fleet staff safe over the cold and wet winter months.

Dark dangers

Maintaining a clear view of the road should be the most important winter road safety rule for drivers. The Department of Transport revealed that 40% of all collisions in the UK occurs during hours of darkness, and with the nights longer and darker, it’s essential that you all of your lights are working correctly. Not only is it difficult to identify other cars whilst driving at night, but other road users such as cyclists, pedestrians and animals are increasingly harder to spot too.

Be wary of the weather

Last years flooding is said to have caused around £2.5 million of damage to fleets, equating to an estimated cost of £4,500 per incident! When possible, drivers should avoid driving through flood water, ice and snow, however, when necessary they should exercise driving with extreme caution.

Keep slow

A vehicle’s speed determines whether the driver can stop in time, and how hard the impact is if they can’t stop. Brake has estimated that for every 1mph reduction in speed, crash rates fall by an average of 5%. Stopping distances double on wet roads and can even increase tenfold in icy conditions, so make sure you allow more space than usual between vehicles.

Essential inside items:

• • Ice scraper & screenwash (make sure it protects against temperatures as low as -35 degrees)
• • Torch & spare batteries
• • First aid kit
• • Jump leads
• • Reflective warning sign
• • Food & a bottle of water
• • Warm clothes & blankets
• • Spare mobile phone & charger
• • Spare money

Remember to always check the traffic and weather reports before setting off!

If the weather too bad to drive safely, pull over somewhere safe and wait until the conditions have improved.

08 January 2016