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Volvo offers winter driving checks for business drivers
Date: 04 December 2019
Volvo is helping businesses and fleet managers prepare company car drivers and their vehicles for wintry conditions with vehicle checks and advice.
Steve Beattie, head of business sales at Volvo Car UK said: "At our nationwide network of workshops, Volvo-trained technicians are on hand to help prepare company cars for winter, checking everything from the battery and braking system to the windscreen, wiper blades, bulbs and fluids. With this support, fleet managers have peace of mind that their drivers and vehicles are ready for challenging conditions."
As well as the 'winter-ready' checks carried out by its specialist technicians, Volvo also recommends that businesses encourage their company car drivers to carry out their own regular maintenance checks on their vehicles.
With snow, heavy rain and poor visibility more likely across the country, Volvo says it is more important than ever to check the condition and tread depth of tyres, keep headlights and windscreens clean and ensure oil, coolant, de-icer and screen wash are all topped up.
it says tyres are arguably the most important thing to maintain for safe winter driving, and advocates checking tread depth regularly, not only due to legal requirements but because it can have a significant impact on stopping distances.
With potholes being an issue on most UK roads and wintry weather contributing to further deterioration, Volvo says businesses should also encourage company car drivers to check for tyre damage such as bulges, cuts and foreign objects as well as uneven wear which could be caused by misalignment.
Beattie added: "Businesses should remind their company car drivers to take journeys steady in poor conditions. If visibility is reduced or roads are extremely wet or at risk of being icy, unnecessary journeys should be avoided and those who do drive should be more cautious and avoid risky manoeuvres which could lead to skidding.
"We also always advise drivers to carry blankets, extra warm layers of clothing and food and drinks when the weather turns wintry, just in case they or other motorists and their passengers become stranded."
Volvo tips for helping fleet managers keep drivers safe on the road this winter:
- Prepare fleet vehicles for winter driving by booking into a local workshop where Volvo-trained technicians can check important points such as the battery, braking system, windscreen, wiper blades, bulbs and fluids.
- Businesses should not put drivers under pressure to be in the office or at meetings in extreme weather, when driving conditions are unsafe.
- As a minimum, fleet managers and businesses should provide drivers with a simple essential maintenance checklist to carry out each week, including tyre tread, wiper blade condition, cleanliness of headlights and all windows, levels of oil, coolant, screen wash and de-icer.
- Remind fleet drivers to check their vehicle condition in daylight or a fully lit garage.
- A winter driving policy should outline requirements for vehicle preparation and any equipment or procedures drivers must carry and adhere to during bad weather spells. Keeping fuel levels above a quarter of a tank should also be recommended in case of unexpected delays.
- Remind drivers to take extra care when visibility drops at dusk, and to keep an eye on their speed on slippery roads since stopping distances can be 10 times longer.
- Consider providing drivers with an emergency kit to keep in their car, including breakdown essentials such as a high-visibility vest, a blanket, torch and phone charger.
- Install map updates on all fleet vehicles to ensure drivers are always using the best possible routes. This can be done quickly and easily online for models with Sensus Navigation. Alternatively, a local Volvo workshop can install the latest map updates.
