With heavy snowfall in the Wiltshire area I am working from home having decided not to risk the treacherous trip into the office, a decision made all the easier by the fact that my car is about as good on the snow and ice as Bambi.
We seemed to have gone several years without serious snowfall but with widespread disruption brought by snow last year and more of the same this year, tough winter driving conditions look like they could become a regular occurrence. Now all of the weather warnings say that we shouldn’t drive unless absolutely necessary, but that can be a tough temptation to avoid for business drivers under pressure to meet deadlines and get the job done.
That pressure goes some way to explain the findings of a survey conducted by Continental Tyres which showed that fleet drivers are taking more risks than other drivers when it comes to poor weather, in particular snow and ice. Examples include a third of drivers setting off without properly clearing their windscreen and widespread use of a credit card to clear ice and snow from the vehicle.
No matter how good a driver you are, driving in snowy and icy conditions, or any adverse weather for that matter, is dangerous and nearly always constitutes a risk not worth taking. However, if drivers are to alter their mentalities, employers have a role to play in developing a safety first culture which will allow them to meet Duty of Care obligations.
Organisations providing facilities to drivers that reduce the need to travel should be commended. Issuing laptops and mobile phones as well as providing access to tele and video conferencing equipment should go hand in hand with a clear, written fleet policy. There are many drivers who take risks in bad weather and with company support there really is no excuse. Measures like checking tread depths on tyres, using screen wash with antifreeze and driving vehicles that have been regularly maintained should come as second nature.
The world can’t stop because of some snow, it certainly doesn’t in countries where heavy snow is a regular occurrence but they are often better equipped to deal with extreme weather than we are. Driving in bad weather is a risk, don’t do it unless you have to, and if you do, preparation is the key. Take every precaution that you can to stay safe by preparing yourself and your vehicle for challenging conditions and planning your journey carefully.
