Teletrac technology beats wet weather woes
Telematics provider Teletrac Navman has issued advice to fleets on how they can prioritise safety during slippery driving conditions caused by spring showers.
The company cites a report from the Met Office, which suggests Britain is not only getting warmer, but seeing fewer dry spells and longer wet spells than ever before.
“Therefore, as always, it’s important that transport managers prepare their fleets for wet driving conditions as it can be particularly hazardous,” said Peter Millichap, marketing director at Teletrac Navman UK.
“At the moment, this is a three per cent increase from 2019 to 2020, but could represent the start of a worrying trend.”
He highlights Teletrac Navman’s road safety dashboard, which collects data from the Department for Transport, providing fleet managers with timely information on the types of conditions their drivers will experience and therefore the risks they will be exposed to.
“For example, when the road surface is covered with water over 3cm deep, the accident severity rate increases to 30 per cent,” Peter continued.
“Having this information to hand, gives fleet managers the opportunity to plan alternative routes in order to keep drivers and other road users safe.”
When driving in rain, it’s vital that drivers do everything in their power to increase and maintain visibility, he adds.
“This includes turning on headlights so that other motorists can see you, as well using your windscreen wipers to aid with your own vision. It’s important to ventilate your vehicle too as rain causes humidity levels to increase resulting in foggy windows.
“Stopping your vehicle will be more difficult when driving in the rain, taking longer to stop with increased braking distance, so it’s important to maintain several car lengths between you and the vehicle ahead.”
Drivers should also avoid heavy braking as rain reduces the grip between tyre and road surface, adds Peter.
“Instead try to reduce speed by taking the foot off the accelerator earlier to slow down for a smoother driving style.”
Peter advises that transport managers should also harness the valuable insights provided by data to inform their decision making when their fleets face wet driving conditions.
“Those who have visibility of their fleets via telematics can change routes or modify schedules to avoid potentially hazardous conditions and help circumvent delays and disruptions,” he said.
“Additionally, fleet management software enables transport managers to monitor driver behaviour and performance in wet weather. Monitoring harsh braking or sharp cornering, which can be dangerous in wet weather conditions, can help managers advise on driving behaviour and improve driver safety.
“Vehicle cameras can also be helpful in providing insights into driver behaviour, as well as providing evidence if an accident should occur.
“As a global specialist in fleet management software, Teletrac Navman understands how leveraging data can help transport managers improve safety for road users when faced with adverse weather conditions, such as excessive rain in the spring months.”
