There are several general points to bear in mind when driving in showery April conditions. For a start, effective vehicle maintenance is essential.

Tyres must be properly inflated and must have sufficient tread depth to provide adequate grip on slippery road surfaces.

Fleet telematics systems have dramatically simplified the process of vehicle maintenance, by allowing managers to schedule checks and servicing regularly.

This can help fleet operators ensure their vehicles are equipped for April showers.

Furthermore, drivers must properly take account of the conditions they’re faced with. When road surfaces are wet and treacherous, drivers must alter their own conduct accordingly.

Leave sufficient space from any vehicle in front, avoid harsh braking or rough cornering, and moderate speed. Again, telematics data can provide fleet managers with in-depth insights into the way their drivers behave on the road.

If drivers consistently take unnecessary risks, particularly in wet weather conditions, fleet operators can take appropriate measures to deal with these behaviours (whether through training or, where necessary, disciplinary measures).

Fleet operators must therefore bear this sort of information in mind when planning delivery routes this month.

GPS tracking systems allow for dynamic real-time route planning, making it possible to re-route vehicles away from roads that are likely to be particularly treacherous when wet.

This technology has significantly enhanced the safety of drivers because of measures such as this.

A combination of good planning and safe driving should significantly reduce the risk of weather-related road accidents this spring – it’s essential that both fleet managers and drivers uphold their respective duties.

By Peter Millichap, UK marketing director at Teletrac Navman

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