After Hurricane Ophelia and Brian struck the UK and Ireland with severe weather, the RSA of Ireland has issued videos on safety for those driving in severe weather conditions—it could easily be your fleet drivers caught up in this kind of weather. Circulate these videos to warn your team about the potential hazards of these severe conditions.
The videos focus particularly on four severe weather events that are typically associated with powerful storms and hurricanes: icy roads, flooded roads, strong winds and fog.
Icy roads
Black ice forms when rain freezes as it hits the road, forming a thin sheet of ice that is highly dangerous. It is best to avoid getting into a skid in the first place; and the best way is simply to slow down. In freezing conditions, treat every road as though it is frozen. If you skid on black ice, the main thing is not to brake, take your foot off the accelerator and use every control very delicately.
Flooded roads
After heavy rain it can take some time for water to drain away. Try to avoid crossing a road covered in water. Wait until the water level drops or choose an alternative route—never try to drive over a flooded road. With systems such as SynX it is easy to do that, so consult your fleet manager for an alternative route if you come across roads that are precarious.
Strong winds
Control of your vehicle may be affected by strong winds and vehicles such as trucks, buses and motorcycles are especially at risk. Expect gusts in open areas or areas where there are gaps in high buildings. Hedges and lanes of traffic create a wind tunnel. And take particular care on motorways and other high speed roads as crosswinds can push your vehicle off course. Reduce your speed, keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you and keep a firm grip on your steering wheel.
Foggy conditions
When driving in dense fog, always use your fog lights. Fog effects your judgement of speed and you can easily find yourself speeding up without realising it. Fog makes taillights look further away than they really are, so it’s essential to slow down and maintain a safe distance.
