Think about winter and you probably picture dark days, spiralling energy bills and the madness of the busy Christmas period.
We’ll bet what rarely springs to mind is your fleet of vehicles.
Yet with figures revealing almost a quarter of Brits (23%) have been involved in a car accident after driving in harsh winter weather conditions, and that insurers typically see a 25% spike in car accident claims in November (with the highest percentage of serious accidents occurring between November and February), it’s clear NOW is definitely the time to take action.
The good news is a little preparation can go a long way.
Here the team at Rigby Financial share how you can best protect your fleet and ensure everyone stays safe behind the wheel this winter.
Why is driving more dangerous in winter?
Icy roads, snow, reduced daylight and heavy rainfall are just some of the typical conditions drivers face in winter, all of which have a huge impact on road safety.
Add to these adverse weather conditions the negative impact of cold weather on tyres and batteries and it’s no surprise the risk of accidents is significantly increased.
How to stay safe
The key to staying safe over the winter months is all about getting the basics right:
· Defrost
In the rush to get to work or make meetings on time, many people start driving before their vehicle is fully de-iced. This is a dangerous mistake.
Ensure you have full visibility before setting off and, if it’s snowed, clear any drifts from the roof of the vehicle as this can fall forward and obstruct the windscreen once in motion.
And remember, tempting as it may be to start the engine running so things can start to thaw while you stay warm inside – don’t leave keys in the car! This will completely invalidate your insurance should an opportunistic thief strike.
· Stay charged
Ensure mobile phones are fully charged before setting off, so contact and emergency calls can be made.
And these days it’s not just phones that need charging. If you have an electric vehicle, it’s advisable to keep this as fully charged as possible, especially before setting out on long journeys and be mindful that charging can take longer in the colder weather, so allow extra time.
· Create a snow kit
Safely tucked inside a car with the heaters cranked up high, it can be easy to lose sight of the severity of the conditions outside. In fact, research carried out by Aviva found that more than half of those surveyed (57%) admitted to wearing inappropriate clothing or footwear for the weather conditions they were driving in.
So whilst attending meetings in wellies may not always be appropriate, keeping a snow kit to hand certainly is.
A spare jacket, wellies, snow spade and non-perishable snacks are just a few of the items it’s worth storing in vehicles as standard.
· Switch to winter tyres
Investing in winter tyres is a great idea. Enhancing grip and flexibility on the road even in icy conditions.
· Adapt driving
Taking extra care and adjusting driving to suit the weather conditions is crucial in winter.
Using lower revs, driving slower, and allowing more space between yourself and the car in front to allow for increased stopping distances, can dramatically reduce the risk of a collision.
With more cautious, slower driving, it’s important to allow increased time for journeys to prevent the temptation of speeding.
· Talk to your team
Communicating the need to take personal responsibility, and raising awareness of the basic steps that should be taken to adapt driving for winter conditions, are crucial steps in keeping drivers safe.
Training, or even just informal reminders, can help to reinforce the precautions required to stay safe.
· Get insurance in place
With all the care and preparation in the world, accidents still happen – so ensuring your insurance details are fully up-to-date is one of the most important aspects of being winter-ready.
Do you have enough cover? Are driver and vehicle details still correct? Before the winter weather fully kicks in, be sure to check your insurance is as comprehensive as possible. That way, if the worst should happen, you can be confident you’re fully insured.
Need a hand?
Then contact the team at Rigby Financial today.
You find the snow shovel and we’ll happily take care of everything else, ensuring you have the right fleet insurance in place to offer you and your team the best possible protection this winter.