Have a safe T.R.I.P this Autumn – share with your drivers

The Autumn edition of National Highways seasonal T.R.I.P. campaign has just been launched with resources to share with drivers.

The core message is to encourage all drivers to have a safe T.R.I.P. by following these four simple steps before embarking on any long journey:

• Top-up fuel/battery, oil and screen-wash
• Rest – plan your rest stops every 2 hours
• Inspect tyre pressure and tread
• Prepare for all weather conditions

Focus on INSPECT TYRES

Weather conditions take a turn for the worse during Autumn, so this campaign is focusing on the ‘inspect’ element of the T.R.I.P acronym, with a call to action for drivers to check their tyres before setting off.

With more than half (55%) of UK drivers – equating to 18.9 million drivers in England – admitting they don’t check their tyre tread most or all of the time before a long journey (>2 hours), and 48% (equivalent of 16.5 million) not checking their tyre pressure most or all of the time, National Highways is calling for all drivers to get tyre confident and check them before embarking on long journeys this autumn.

One in five motorway breakdowns are caused by tyre problems. Drivers are also more likely to be involved in a breakdown if tyres are incorrectly inflated. As a business, you have a responsibility to make sure your drivers are conducting regular vehicle safely checks. Have you got this covered in your driving for work policies?

Your cars or their cars – the employer’s responsibilities are the same

Staff driving company cars, or their own cars, for work journeys should carry out a visual check of their tyres for obvious issues such as tread depth, low pressure or damage before any long journey and physically check the pressures on a regular basis – every week if possible.

Drivers of commercial vehicles should be carrying out these checks thoroughly at the start of each day or shift.

• Driving with incorrectly inflated tyres – even by as little as 10% – increases braking distance, makes the vehicle harder to steer, uses more fuel and shortens the life of the tyres.
• Driving with low-tread tyres reduces the ability to control the vehicle and stop quickly, especially in wet conditions.

Do your drivers understand their responsibilities?

Share these ‘1 minute vehicle checks’ videos with your drivers to ensure they know how to conduct some essential vehicle checks:

If you employ or manage commercial vehicle drivers, check out our Fleet Focus on Vehicle Roadworthiness  and you can also access a wealth of advice and free resources to share with your drivers via the National Highways Award Winning Van Driver Toolkit, including video Toolbox Talks.