Watch Out This Winter
Your Union is calling on companies to put driver safety at top priority over the winter months when Britain's roads can be extremely treacherous.
Companies should be making sure that all their vehicles are regularly checked and well maintained. They should also be informing their route planners to think very carefully before sending drivers out and should look for routes that avoid the worst affected roads rather than just plump for the shortest distance. Temporary changes to drivers' and customers' schedules also need to be introduced to minimise night-time deliveries when the risk of both accidents and becomining stranded is greatest during periods of snow, ice and fog. In extreme conditions, where a company cannot assure a safe route for a driver to get to their destination, the delivery should be cancelled.
Companies should also ensure that, at all times, their vehicles are loaded properly as inappropriate loading can lead to jack-knifing in extreme conditions. If the load is concentrated towards the rear of the trailer, it reduces the weight on the drive axle and therefore the driver's control, especially when going downhill or braking.
When strong winds are predicted, journey planners need to be arranging routes that avoid exposed or high roads (such as motorway flyovers, bridges or viaducts) with particular care being made for empty and high-sided vehicles, which will be affected more by the wind.
Be Prepared
Unfortunately you should never assume that your employer has taken all the necessary steps to ensure your safety when driving in hazourdous winter conditions.
Before you start out on a journey in poor weather condition, their are a number of steps you should undertake.
Make sure you have prepared an emergency kit (see box). In addition to your daily walk around check, it's worth:
- Making sure your lights are clean and checking the bulbs
- Ensuring your windscreen is clean and you have enough screenwash
- Clearing all the ice and snow from your vehicle
During winter it's also essential your tyres are in good condition. Pay particular attention to:
- Tread depth
- Tyre pressure
- Signs of damage (cuts, cracks, bulges or embedded objects).
If you are going to be driving an empty curtain-sided vehicle and windy weather is forecast, tie both curtain sides at one end of the vehicle to reduce the effect of side winds.
Do your own research into traffic conditions and potential weather conditions and make your employer aware of any concerns you have before you set off. You can check the Met Office website for warnings of hazardous conditions.
On the Road
In the winter months the three most dangerous factors are snow / ice, fog and wind. If you experience any of these problems out on the road slow down and increase your distance from the vehicle in front. If conditions become so poor as to make driving safely impossible, park up and wait for conditions to improve. Getting to your destination is never worth risking your own safety.
Try to anticipate how conditions may affect other road users, especially cyclists and motorcyclists and take particular care when overtaking these. In windy conditions, watch for places where conditions could suddenly change, such as a gap in the trees or after passing other large vehicles. When experiencing fog, do not chase another vehicle simply to keep its tail lights in sight. It may be going too fast for safety. Also, don't speed up to try and get away from a following vehicle's lights. Watch your speed as fog affects your judgement of speed and it is easy to speed up without realising it.
Stuck
Finally, if the conditions become so poor that you need to stop, stay in your vehicle. Be aware of your location so that you can give precise information to the emergency serices. If you become stuck in snow, do not try to free your vehicle It is tempting to do this but often causes an injury.
Emergency kit Essentials
Before you set out this winter make sure you pack an emergency kit. It might seem like a hassle to do but you never know when you might need it. The kit needs to include:
- Ice scraper and de-icer
- Torch and spare batteries
- Warm clothes and a blanket
- High-vis jacket
- Waterproof boots
- Mobile phone and charger
- Food and a warm drink in a vacuum flask
- Reflective triangle
- A shovel
- Road atlas
- First-aid kit
- Sunglasses (snow glare can be dazzling)
