Winter Driving for Company Vehicle Drivers

As the weather changes, every motorist should be thinking about some basic safety checks and driving considerations, including those motorists driving company cars. Here we explore some of the hazards associated with winter driving in particular and how easy it is to avoid them with a few simple procedures.

Basic Checks
Legally, every employer has a duty to maintain their vehicles correctly, but there should also be a system of fault reporting within the company which helps everyone and maintains your safety as a driver. Whilst every car should be fully serviced, some basic checks should always be carried out before you set off, particularly in winter. These start-up checks might include:

• Are the tyres fully inflated? Is the tyre tread acceptable and is the pressure at the correct setting?
• Is there adequate fuel? This is especially important in cold conditions when we may use more fuel than usual.
• Are your lights, including indicators, working correctly?
• Oil and coolant levels. Are they both adequate? Your engine will not function correctly without these.
• Visibility checks. Are your wipers working? Do you have de-icing spray or an ice scraper on board? Do you have antifreeze in your washer liquid?

Other Considerations
Assuming that the basic checks are all clear, you can hope for a safe journey, but if the worst does happen, it is useful to have some things on board to help you out in very cold or inclement weather.

• Check that your heating system is working effectively and consider carrying a travel blanket and some hi-vis gear in case you have to wait to be rescued.
• Check to see if there are some jump cables in the car to combat cold cars which won’t start.
• Is there an emergency snow shovel in the vehicle?

Who to Phone
If all else fails and you need to phone for help, it is always useful to know who covers your breakdown service, the contact and policy number and the name of the insurance provider along with policy number and contact details.

Having the numbers handy can save a lot of stress in an emergency, even if you have been thorough with your winter checks.