The Easter weekend is just around the corner and most people are looking forward to some R & R with time off to make visits and enjoy a well-deserved break. If you are not among the lucky ones buying chocolate eggs or sitting with their feet up eating goodies, it is probably not so much down to watching your calorie intake but rather because you are one of those who have to spend the Easter break driving for work.
Driving over Easter can be riskier than usual as roads can become very busy and the rise in driving activity can be associated with an increased risk of potential collisions and accidents. On these particular occasions fleet drivers and motorists in general tend to be extra vigilant, as people tend to change their behaviour and adopt unsafe driving practices in order to reach their destinations as fast as possible. This might lead to dangerous motoring actions such as speeding or taking chances when overtaking for the abovementioned purpose. In this situation, fleet drivers who are active during this time in particular need to be patient, considerate and extra careful.
Regarding traffic, last year around 20 million vehicles were on roads during the Easter break in the UK, peaking on Holy Thursday and Easter Monday—post-work periods and the timing of school breaks especially impacted traffic levels.
In this particularly challenging time we would like to reiterate some good practices for fleet drivers:
#1 - Never ever overlook vehicle inspections: apart from being a fleet compliance requirement, doing your daily walkaround checks reduces the risks of having an accident and keeps the vehicles in a safe, roadworthy condition. Do not commit the mistake of skipping checks because of time constraints—if you need a quick and sound process to do this, sign up for our SynX Driver app and start doing paperless checks from your smartphone.
#2 - Always practice safe driving: wear your seat belts, avoid drinking and driving, maintain the safety distance when following a vehicle, respect speed limits and be patient. Do not follow the temptation to practice aggressive driving or take rush decisions that can lead to a dangerous misestimate.
#3 - No distractions: keep your eyes on the road even if you are queuing. Do not use smartphones or tablets while driving as something unexpected can happen at any given moment.
#4 - Drive defensively: keep an eye on other road users (bicycles and pedestrians included). Be especially careful at traffic lights, intersections or crossings.
#5 - Fight fatigue: take appropriate rest breaks and follow the EU regulations on driving hours.
We wish you a happy Easter—at home or on the road!
