Brake, the road safety charity, has published an advice sheet for drivers on staying safe in bad weather.

The resource, which has been sponsored by Arco, is available for fleet managers to distribute to their drivers through the charity's Fleet Safety Forum.

Adverse weather conditions can make driving much more dangerous. At this time of year it's vital that companies employing drivers take extra steps to manage the risks and remind drivers of the dangers.

Stopping distances double in the wet and can increase tenfold in ice and snow.

Fog or dazzling, low sun can severely harm visibility, preventing drivers from reacting to hazards.

Flooding and strong winds can make even familiar roads treacherous.

Brake calls organisations to ensure their drivers follow the A, B, C of staying safe in bad weather conditions:

  • Avoid driving at all if possible
  • Be prepared, by planning journeys around bad weather and packing a bad weather kit
  • Careful, cautious driving: slow down and be extra vigilant for people and hazards

Arco said: "With the winter weather on its way, we're encouraging drivers to be prepared for the challenging weather.

"This can mean taking simple preventative steps such as properly clearing icy or snowy windscreens so the road is fully visible, fully removing snow from vehicles and wearing sunglasses to protect against low sun glare.

"We welcome this advice sheet as a valuable resource to help fleet managers ensure their drivers stay safe this winter."

The advice sheet is available for free to Fleet Safety Forum subscribers, or can be purchased for £5 by non-subscribers.

Special offer: the first 25 non-subscribers to request the sheet will get a copy for FREE. Please email admin@brake.org.uk or call +44 (0)1484 559909 to order.

 

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