Whether your fleet consists of frequent-travel utility vehicles, machinery or HGVs, winter driving is more risky for your drivers. Here are the four basics you should know as a fleet manager to ensure road safety at work in winter.
Certain risk factors may seem obvious, such as driving at high altitudes in thick snow. Other situations may jeopardise road safety at work because they are more difficult to anticipate.
Falling temperatures may lead to:
Low light and night driving can lead to:
Be vigilant wherever you are
Extreme weather is common in colder regions. However, it can also occur outside mountainous areas and French infrastructure is ill equipped to deal with it.
Anticipate the clocks changing to winter time
Each year this causes an uptick in accidents. Do not be afraid to give your drivers a quick reminder by asking them to be doubly vigilant in this period.
Additional mistrust in winter of motorised personal vehicles
The widespread use of electric scooters and their derivatives is a significant extra risk on the roads for employees driving at night, especially in urban areas. Although they are now required by law to have front and rear lights, not all motorised personal vehicles do so.
Correct vehicle preparation is essential to prevent risk factors. What this entails: checking the vehicle’s general condition and provision of appropriate winter equipment and accessories. Here is a checklist to run through during the planning phase:
25% of companies install special equipment (tyres and chains) on their vehicles for the winter. This figure should increase as a result of recent regulatory changes. We explain why.
Light vehicles, utility vehicles, coaches, buses and HGVs without a trailer or semi-trailer must have a choice of either four winter tyres fitted or metal or textile snow chains that can be installed on two drive wheels.
HGVs with a trailer or semi-trailer must have snow chains that can be installed on at least two drive wheels, even if they are fitted with winter tyres (even if they are studded).
These requirements apply in 48 French departments . The prefects have drawn up a list of the municipalities affected. These areas will be marked by new road signs.
The requirement first came into force from 1 November 2021 until 31 March 2022 (it is renewed each year to the same timetable). The fine for failure to comply is 135 euros. The government says that ‘tolerance’ will be applied in winter 2021.
Fitting winter tyres can reduce risks on the road for employees in winter but has an impact on your TCO. Determining as part of your car policy (see the section below on this policy) which drivers should be eligible for winter tyres can keep costs under control.
Vehicles that are used in areas where the Montagne II Law applies and where there is a likelihood of snow are affected by the requirement. In any case, set out the rules and conditions for obtaining them to prevent the criteria from being subject to interpretation.
Using a fleet management solution with on-board telematics can enable you to:
Although the majority of drivers drive more carefully in winter, the increase in risk factors means driving best practices should be highlighted as well as the procedures to be followed if a problem occurs.
The car policy is a documentation centre directly accessible by drivers from their Ocean Conduite mobile app. This means that you can easily provide them with all the safety information they need.
Remind your drivers how to adapt their driving to winter conditions. These driving principles should include:
By means of themed factsheets or detailed FAQs, be sure to include in your car policy the answers to any questions that your drivers may have in the event of an incident:
Sharing of this information may be combined with courses and training for the drivers most exposed to the risks.