While the UK has enjoyed a milder start to winter in 2011 than in recent years, bad weather will still be a key issue over the coming months, particularly for fleets, says the Fleet Safety Forum.
As a result, it has published new guidance for fleet managers on the topic of ‘Driver Safety in Bad Weather’. While winter makes for heightened awareness of this issue, the guidance highlights that bad weather is increasingly a road safety issue throughout the year.
In the UK in 2010, 33% of all fatal road crashes occurred when roads were wet, flooded, icy or snowy.
Fleet managers must plan ahead to account for the disruption caused by adverse weather, with the safest option always being to ensure drivers do not have to go out on the roads in dangerous conditions.
Drivers need to be educated and reminded about the importance of avoiding risky situations on the roads, as well as what to do if they do get caught in a sudden snowfall, fog or high winds for instance.
The Fleet Safety Forum guidance provides practical advice for fleet managers on how to approach this topic in terms of journey planning, communication with drivers, and equipping fleet vehicles appropriately.
There is an Advice for Drivers section that can be provided as a separate document to circulate to staff or post on intranet sites.
The guidance is available for free to Fleet Safety Forum subscribers, or can be purchased for £5 by non-subscribers. The first 50 non-subscribers to request the guidance will get a copy for free.
Please email forum@brake.org.uk or call 01484 559909 to order.
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