Winter Driver Safety Initiative

Adman Civil Projects SHEQ Team started a new safety campaign about driving in poor weather conditions, focussing specifically on the dangers of driving during winter months. In the winter months public attention is often drawn towards the travel disruption that can be caused by snow and ice, but the greater dangers of rain, wet roads and reduced visibility are often overlooked.

ADMAN - Winter Driving Tips

Driving in the winter is very different than in other times of the year. Adverse weather and longer periods of darkness (especially after the clocks go back at the end of October) makes driving more hazardous. Sometimes conditions can be extreme, as we have found out over recent weeks, with prolonged periods of heavy snow and heavy rainfall.

Different weather conditions create different hazards throughout the winter and in different areas of the country at different times, especially as we are working in some very remote areas with restricted vehicular access. A single journey may take us into very different weather, road and traffic conditions, so we need to be prepared for each one. This means that we need to adapt the way we drive to the conditions.

Most of us have very little experience of driving in extreme conditions, such as snow, so take some time to consider how it affects your driving. Don't just drive as normal.

It is advised that in very bad conditions, avoid driving completely, unless you absolutely have to make the journey and driving is the only option.

Adman SHEQ TEAM have been delivering presentations to all company vehicle drivers which covers our winter driving tips, including planning your journey & preparing your vehicle.  Each driver was presented with our Drivers Manual,  Vehicle Daily Inspection book and a Vehicle emergency kit/ Rucksack.

Staff have been encouraged to do their own checks. In particular, check: 

- Lights are clean and working

- Battery is fully charged

- Windscreen

- Wiper blades and other windows are clean and the washer bottle filled with screen wash

- Tyre condition, tread depth and pressure (of all the tyres, including the spare)

- Brakes are working well

- Fluids are kept topped up, especially windscreen wash (to the correct concentration to prevent it freezing), anti-freeze and oil

The message is to stay safe, maintain & check your vehicle and be prepared if you breakdown this winter!