The unpredictable weather and colder conditions in the winter make driving dangerous for your employees. As an employer, you have an obligation to ensure their wellbeing, along with the reputation of your business, as well as to prevent road accidents, so putting in place some health and safety measures is best for everyone.
Below, we’ll explore some sensible practices that you can use in your business but, regardless of these, you should also consider getting the right transport insurance, which could provide you with cover if any incidents do occur.
Is the vehicle journey-ready?
Winter is one of the most dangerous times for many drivers, so you need to make sure that all of your work vehicles are roadworthy and ready for what they might face, especially for those travelling long distances. Taking your trucks to be properly serviced is a sensible precaution that will give you confidence that they’ll make it from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
While having your trucks looked at by a professional is always wise, there are also some simple checks you can do on your vehicles to make sure that they’re roadworthy. Special attention needs to be given to your windscreen wipers and cooling system in particular.
Drive safely
While your trucks might be serviced and roadworthy, your employees’ driving performance may not be. Providing your employees with regular training and ensuring that they’re aware of the Highway Code when driving in cold conditions is imperative to preventing road accidents and a good way to encourage safe driving practices.
As well as everyday principles like being conscious of the distance between their vehicle and the one in front of them, drivers must drive at a slower speed than usual and should be even more attentive to taking regular breaks to recharge their focus.
Automatic Threat Intelligence
AI technology can now detect hazards in real-time before the driver is even aware of them and promptly warn them or direct them to a different route. Predictive safety systems now can detect driver distractions such as phone use and even driver drowsiness, among other things – so, if you have an opportunity to incorporate these innovations into your vehicles, it’s worth exploring.
Provide the necessary equipment
Try as you might, you can’t always prevent traffic accidents. In case it becomes necessary, then, your trucks must be stocked with the appropriate equipment to keep your employees safe and comfortable.
This can include simple provisions such as an ice scraper and a phone charger to emergency markers and jumper cables. A set of warm clothes and first-aid kits are other useful elements of emergency kits that employers should provide.
