Fleet management is challenging enough, but dealing with adverse weather conditions adds an extra layer of complexity. Heavy rain, fog or extreme heat can all compromise traffic safety.
Preparing your fleet for these situations is not just a formality, but a matter of protecting lives. This guide will detail the main challenges, risks and strategies to help you face all of this safely.
What are adverse weather conditions?
Risks associated with adverse weather conditions
How to prepare your fleet to face adverse weather conditions?
Extra care for everyday life
Defensive Driving Tips for Adverse Weather Conditions
Technology is your ally in adverse weather conditions
What are adverse weather conditions?
Any change in the weather that makes it difficult to operate a vehicle safely is an adverse weather condition. Common examples include heavy rain, dense fog, extreme heat, and strong winds or even snow, depending on the location.
Often They arrive without warning and are accompanied by serious risks. Hailstorms drastically reduce tire grip, while dense fog and mist limit visibility.
In addition to increasing the risk of accidents, an adverse weather condition can cause operational disruptions and financial losses.
Risks associated with adverse weather conditions
The first thing we think about when it comes to adverse weather conditions in traffic are the immediate dangers, such as collisions and skidding, but there are still long-term consequences for the fleet, such as:
- Vehicle damage
Driving with unsuitable tires on rainy days can cause hydroplaning, which leads to accidents that damage the vehicle's structure and generate repair costs.
- Higher fuel consumption
Strong winds or slippery roads increase the vehicle's resistance, forcing the engine to work harder.
- Loss of productivity
Delays caused by closures or the need to divert routes impact the entire logistics operation and, consequently, the fleet productivity.
Understanding these risks is the first step. However, the important thing is to implement strategies to deal with adverse weather conditions, starting with maintenance and driver training.
How to prepare your fleet to face adverse weather conditions?
Adverse weather conditions can catch an unprepared fleet by surprise, so some practices are essential to deal with any challenge.
Cultivate a culture of safety
This is a step that paves the way for many others. When the traffic Safety is a core value in the company, everything aligns with this goal, even the creation of a fleet maintenance plan rigorous and with frequent reviews.
But that's not all. It's also important to maintain open communication between management and staff to ensure everyone is on board with the mission. preserve lives and the company's values.
Preventive maintenance as a central pillar
A well maintained fleet with the car review up to date is the first line of defense against problems caused by adverse weather conditions. This requires:
- Tires in good condition
With proper calibration and frequent inspection of the tread, you ensure better grip on wet or slippery roads.
Read more: Tire wear: learn how to check and prevent the 8 main types
- Brakes serviced regularly
Also make sure that the braking system is working properly, as it will be even more important in emergency situations.
- Windshield wipers and blades
Visibility is essential on rainy or foggy days. Replace your wiper blades as soon as you notice signs of wear.
- Cooling system
During the summer, don't forget to include checking the coolant level in your preventive maintenance to prevent the engine from overheating.
Driver Training: Safety Beyond the Basics
A defensive driving is essential for drivers who face adverse weather conditions in traffic. More than knowing how to drive, they need to learn to anticipate and avoid risks.
A good training program should include braking techniques on wet roads, as well as how to react in aquaplaning situations, staying calm and avoiding sudden movements. It is also important to address the issue of maintaining greater distances between vehicles on days when visibility is not strong.
Together, these practices not only prevent accidents, but also promote a culture of safety in the fleet.
Extra care for everyday life
Adverse traffic conditions can arise at any time, but simple actions can minimize risks and prevent fleet safety from being compromised. Here are some actions that can be easily implemented:
- Assemble emergency kits
Being prepared for the unexpected is essential. Each vehicle should contain items such as a warning triangle, reflective vests, flashlights, basic tools and battery charging cables.
Read more: Vehicle safety items: which are mandatory?
- Follow the weather forecast
It's a bit obvious, but it doesn't hurt to remember that efficient planning starts with climate analysis. First of all, check the adverse weather conditions expected for the route.
- Establish communication channels
Ensure drivers have quick and easy ways to report issues such as sudden weather changes, accidents or road closures. This helps protect drivers and improve operational efficiency.
Defensive Driving Tips for Adverse Weather Conditions
Defensive driving is an essential skill for drivers to safely navigate adverse weather conditions. In addition to protecting lives, these practices are a way to prevent accidents, preserve the fleet and keep operations on track.
1. Prefer a safe speed
It all starts with speed. When the weather is unfavorable, slowing down is a non-negotiable. A wet or foggy road requires more time to react to unexpected events, and driving slower gives you the control you need.
It's not just about respecting the speed limits indicated on the signs, but to adjust to what the road and adverse weather conditions demand at that moment.
2. Keep a greater safety distance
This is another crucial point. On sunny days, keeping a few seconds' distance from the car in front may be enough. However, when visibility is poor or the asphalt is slippery, It is always better to increase this distance.
This ensures that if the next driver in line needs to brake suddenly, you will have enough time to react safely.
3. React calmly to aquaplaning
Hydroplaning is one of the adverse weather conditions in traffic that tests even the most experienced drivers' skills, so the first rule is don't panic.
In this case, the secret is to take your foot off the accelerator, hold the steering wheel firmly and avoid sudden movements. Trying to brake or turn the steering wheel too hard will only make the situation worse. The best thing to do is wait for the tires to regain contact with the road and calmly regain control.
4. Use headlights correctly
In heavy rains, turning on the low beams makes all the difference. This helps both to see better and for other drivers to notice the presence of the vehicle. High beam in fog can be treacherous, reflecting on the water particles and making vision even more difficult, therefore, its use is not recommended.
5. Pay attention to your surroundings
One way to use defensive driving in adverse weather conditions is to anticipate hazards by observing your surroundings. If you notice that the car in front is braking frequently or swerving, there may be a problem on the road – perhaps flooding or hidden potholes.
Paying attention to the traffic signs around you is a simple but powerful way to avoid unexpected situations.
6. Know when to stop
There are times when the best decision is not to continue. If visibility is extremely low or the runway is impassable, Drivers should find a safe place to park and wait for conditions to improve. It is always better to delay your trip than to take unnecessary risks.
Technology is your ally in adverse weather conditions
It is not new that managers have access to tools that make the fleet more resilient. One telemetry system is the best example we could give, as it monitors driver behavior and provides data on the location of vehicles.
With the help of a good solution, you can even set up telemetry alerts and automatically receive information such as speeding on dry or rainy roads.
This flexibility allows the parameters to be adapted to the characteristics of the fleet and even the weather conditions of each region. It is a level of customization that promotes a more conscious and economical approach to traffic.
Read more: All about telemetry: what it is, how it works and what the benefits are for fleet management
The benefits of telemetry go beyond customizing alerts. Here are some practical advantages that help overcome these challenges:
- Real-time monitoring
Keeping an eye on the location of vehicles and driver behavior allows you to act quickly in emergencies, as well as acting proactively to avoid accidents.
- Reduction of accidents
Alerts about speeding, sudden braking or inappropriate turns help you avoid dangerous situations, especially on wet roads or in poor visibility.
A more defensive condition, guided by telemetry reports, tends to be more efficient in fuel consumption.
- Route planning
With detailed information about the route and adverse weather conditions, you can adjust routes to avoid risk areas, such as flooding points or slippery roads.
- Personalized training
Having the data collected by the system in hand, it is possible to use the information to identify behavior patterns and offer targeted training to drivers, with a focus on defensive driving and traffic safety.
- Video telemetry
Even with all efforts to avoid accidents, unforeseen situations can happen. That's when video telemetry enters the scene, offering valuable information to understand what happened.
The cameras installed in vehicles record not only the exact moment of accident with the company vehicle, but also the events that preceded it, such as speed and driver behavior.
With this data in hand, it is possible to more accurately reconstruct the dynamics of the incident. This helps to identify the causes, determine responsibility and even defend the driver if he acted correctly.
We also pack any Recordings help in dealing with violations and damages against third parties. They provide concrete evidence that can be used in negotiations with insurance companies, in legal disputes or to establish faster agreements with other involved parties.
Read more: Video telemetry in accident prevention: how to implement it correctly in the fleet
In other words, in addition to preventing immediate risks, technology allows you to monitor fleet performance, identify trends and make strategic adjustments to mitigate problems.
This is what integrating a telemetry system does for your management. You not only improve safety in adverse weather conditions, but also gains operational efficiency and reduces costs, regardless of the weather outside.
If you want to delve even deeper and learn everything that technology can change in your daily life, we share a complete and free e-Book on the subject here.
