In winter, fleet and transport managers operating within the ‘Essential Services’ sector face increasing pressure to ensure the safety of their drivers and vehicle fleet.
Operating in adverse weather conditions brings unique challenges, including an increased risk of collisions due to snow and ice and the recovery of stranded vehicles.
In addition, operatives who take vehicles home may need to deal with ungritted or blocked roads where they live and so may be unable to meet your organisation’s operational demands when required.
Therefore, your fleet and drivers must be adequately prepared to face the challenges of the upcoming winter months. Taking a proactive approach will help to ensure full operational capability.
Keep it clean
It’s important to remember that Advanced Safety Systems (ADAS), such as automatic emergency braking, lane and highway assistance, and driver monitoring, play a crucial role in making our roads safer and saving lives. These systems rely on cameras and sensors, which must be kept clean to function effectively.
During the colder months, when roads are gritted, vehicles can accumulate snow, ice, and salt residue that may block the sensors, potentially leading to system failure. Therefore, it is highly recommended that drivers keep their vehicles clean at all times. Regular vehicle cleaning can also be incorporated into your preventive maintenance routine, offering numerous benefits beyond the winter months.
Consistently cleaning your vehicles can help identify bodywork issues resulting from low-impact damage and general wear and tear. Additionally, maintaining clean vehicles contributes to upholding a professional corporate image.
Location, Location, Location
With a telematics system installed in your fleet, you can access real-time data, ensuring efficient tracking of your vehicles’ locations. This accurate data can be used to send immediate roadside assistance to exact locations, saving time and money and providing reassurance that drivers are not left stranded for long.
Get historical with data
Reviewing historical data from your fleet management software can provide valuable insights. By summarising any issues from the same period in the previous year, you can implement strategic changes for the coming year. This knowledge will help you anticipate and prepare for problems, leading to a more efficient fleet operation.
Collisions, Collisions, Collisions
During winter, collisions increase due to adverse weather, darker evenings, and longer commute times.
As a fleet or transport manager, you can’t control the weather or the traffic your vehicles encounter, but you can implement driver safety training, monitor driver behaviour and ensure that your drivers are sent out on the road prepared and, therefore, meeting or exceeding your duty of care requirements.
To fit them or not – Winter Tyres
Many fleet operators use winter tyres, especially those operating in colder or more remote areas of the UK. Some fleet and transport managers may not know precisely when to use them or if they are necessary. The truth is, winter tyres are not only designed for snow and ice; they offer more grip than summer tyres in all weather conditions – even in the dry – but only when the ambient temperature is lower than 7°C.
One significant consideration is cost and how often adverse weather affects your operational area. Another is storage capacity. One set of tyres has to be stored whilst the other is in use, and with a large fleet, that is a lot of tyres!
If you are concerned about the upfront cost of winter tyres, a genuine alternative to winter tyres for use in snow is snow socks, which are easily fitted over the existing tyre and can be stored away within any vehicle when not in use.
Snow socks are not a direct substitute for winter tyres but may offer peace of mind for your drivers as a precautionary winter accessory.
Forewarned is forearmed
If you are made aware of potentially hazardous roads in your operational area, it is essential to find a way to communicate with your drivers. One way to do this could be via shared messaging Apps.
Encourage drivers to check the weather as the day progresses and to keep an eye out for severe weather warnings issued.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) – Prepare for a reduced range
In cold weather, EVs may experience a 10 to 30% reduction in range due to slower chemical reactions in the battery and increased energy consumption from heating systems and driving in challenging conditions. So, drivers must be advised to closely monitor range depletion.
To maximise EV range in cold weather, it’s essential to keep the battery charged between 20 and 80%, pre-heat the vehicle while it’s plugged in, and plan multiple trips in one go to minimise energy loss.
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