With Christmas just around the corner it’s vital to keep your fleet safe. Busy times can mean your at-work drivers are sharing the road with what can feel like the entire population – adding stress and reinforcing the need to manage fleet risk during this busy time. This week’s tips offer advice to give to drivers around Christmas:
- Many motorists will start their journeys on Christmas Eve, so if you can, try to avoid driving during this peak time and don’t forget to check for weather or traffic updates so you can allow more time to travel.
- If travelling long distances, take into consideration that the weather in one region may not be the same as another. Plan for the whole length of a journey and take note of what the weather is like closer to the destination.
- While business drivers on delivery routes might have vehicle tracking enabled, it’s important for grey fleet and other business drivers to let someone know where they are going and an estimated time of arrival during times of hazardous weather.
- Again, some business drivers may not fuel their vehicles themselves, but for those that do it’s worth ensuring there is enough fuel to complete a journey as familiar garages may close early around Christmas.
- As with any time of year, ensure there are no loose parcels that could turn into missiles in the event of having to brake in an emergency.
- Make sure you take regular rest breaks but avoid leaving valuable gifts on show by locking them away out of sight in the boot.
- Don’t drive if you’re tired. If you begin to feel tired on your journey, then take a rest break. A coffee and a 20-minute stop are the bare minimum needed to help you stay alert. In any case, journeys should be planned with breaks every 2 hours.
- If the office party went on into the early hours, then make sure you are not over the limit ‘the morning after’. You need at least one hour to remove each unit of alcohol from your body. Don’t risk it! For more information about driving the morning after, click here.
Contact your IAM RoadSmart account manager for free winter driving and driver fatigue tips posters, or for any updates to your driver policy. If you’re not yet a customer, Contact Us today to see how our innovative fleet risk management solutions can help you to create a safer, more efficient fleet no matter what the season.
IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman said: “Careful planning and preparation can ensure your Christmas drive home is a safe and smooth one. So long as you give yourself extra time at this busy time of year, your journey home doesn’t need to be as arduous.”
