USING DATA TO AID ROAD SAFETY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS

 

The UK’s changing weather conditions will always affect road safety for motorists, and no time is this truer than in winter. The dark nights and more adverse weather conditions at this time of year raise a new set of challenges that mean transport managers must remind drivers to take extra care and prepare for any eventuality.

 

Milton Keynes, November 30 2021 - Using recent road safety data released by the Department for Transport, to demonstrate how factors such as lighting and road conditions have previously impacted road accidents during this period will help evidence the importance of taking extra precautions.

Teletrac Navman’s new intuitive online dashboard assimilates the data mentioned above to help users gain greater insight into how certain conditions can lead to changes in driver behaviour and the safety of their drivers and other road users this winter.

 

What hazards should fleet managers be aware of this winter?

The dashboard, highlighting 2020 data, showed how accidents that occur when driving in fog or mist have the highest accident severity rate, with 27% proving to be a serious collision. The severity rate remains high (23%) when it is snowing too. The data also found motorists are 14% more likely to have a severe accident when driving in high winds.

Aside from weather conditions, the lack of light during the winter months can also impact, with a severe accident rate of 33% when driving in the dark without light.

 

So, how should transport managers navigate these hazards?

Information is power, and with greater awareness of the potential hazards, transport managers can prepare and respond quickly to what winter brings.

Here are some practical tips to remind drivers of:

 

Driving in the mist or fog

Upon entering mist or fog, drivers should reduce their speed, increase the distance between them and the vehicle in front, and turn on the fog light if the visibility drops below 100 metres. Drivers may want to use a full beam, but this can reduce visibility even further. They should also avoid switching the fog light on and off, which can distract other road users. Importantly, if a vehicle is involved in an accident when driving in fog but hasn't got its fog lights on, it could invalidate the insurance.

 

Driving in the snow and on ice

Good tyre grip is essential; keep your speed down and allow up to 10 seconds between you and the car in front, and therefore factor in longer journey times. Sudden movements could destabilise a vehicle, so accelerate, brake, steer and change gear as smoothly as possible to reduce skidding.

Ensure you have a charged mobile, food and drink, a blanket, and check that car windows and mirrors are clean before driving.

 

Driving in the dark

When driving in the dark, use your lights appropriately and keep your vehicle’s lights clean to help with visibility. In addition, drivers should make sure they don’t get behind the wheel when tired and be extra vigilant of obstacles on the road, like night-time roadworks.

 

Driving in high winds

Motorists should plan their journeys carefully, choosing a route with less exposure to the weather, as well as preparing for sudden gusts of wind by driving slowly and steadily, particularly in exposed areas. High winds also increase the chance of debris on the road, so drivers must be keen-eyed for additional obstacles.

As well as reinforcing practical tips, examining real-time datasets will help transport managers extract valuable insight to inform decision making.   

For example, those who have visibility of their fleets via telematics can use real-time data to help manage risk during unpredictable weather conditions. Whether changing routes or modifying schedules to avoid potentially hazardous conditions and help eliminate delays and disruptions.

They can also monitor driver performance and behaviour during adverse weather – such as sharp cornering, rapid acceleration, and harsh braking – to make impactful changes and improve driver safety. Similarly, drivers’ hours and fatigue levels recorded via a tachograph system can be used to better understand journey times in the darker months. Vehicle cameras placed internally and externally can also help provide additional evidence if an accident occurs.

 

 

As a global leader in telematics technology, Teletrac Navman understands how turning data into decisions is becoming a key priority for transport managers, helping them manage risk and improve safety for all road users, no matter what seasonal difficulties arise.

For more information, visit the new dashboard: https://www.teletracnavman.co.uk/data/uk-road-safety-data-dashboard

 

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About Teletrac Navman

Teletrac Navman is a global, market leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider leveraging AI  and machine learning to drive next generation mobile asset and fleet management. Powered by AI to turn real-time data into decisions, Teletrac Navman’s specialized solutions  deliver businesses with simplified, smart, predictive and actionable insights  to help enhance productivity and profitability. Its fleet and asset management technology uncovers and simplifies information that would otherwise go unseen, helping customers reduce risk and confidently move their business forward with certainty. It tracks and manages more than 550,000 vehicles and assets around the world. The company is headquartered in Orange County, CA, with additional offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. For more information visit www.teletracnavman.com.