Tis the season for staying safe on the roads

Can you believe it’s December already? This year has been another eventful one for pretty much every business, but as 2022 draws to a close and the lights go on for Christmas, it’s important not to take your foot off the pedal where safe driving is concerned.

Traffic at this time of year is notoriously heavy – especially on the last working day before Christmas – so this is a good time to remind yourself and any drivers you employ of a few safety points when getting behind the wheel. We’ve drawn up a little list to make it easy for you.

Check the weather

We’ve had a sweltering summer and a long, mild autumn but winter is here – and that means the risk of wet or icy roads, heavy rain, fog and short daylight hours. If you know you’re going to be hitting the roads, check the forecast and plan your route in advance.

December traffic gets busier as people throw parties, head to festive events or simply travel to spend time with friends and family. Heavy traffic and bad weather could slow your journey right down so make sure you leave enough time and plan the best route for the conditions.

Get your vehicle winter-ready

A breakdown in bad weather is a problem at the best of times, but at this time of the year it’s particularly frustrating. Roads are busier and everyone has somewhere they need to be, let alone the more demanding schedules for drivers of courier vans and delivery vehicles with the rush of presents being bought and delivered.

So before you set off, make sure you carry out some quick checks of your van to make sure it’s safe, including your tyre pressures, lights, oil level, fuel levels, battery power and brake pads. You’ll want to doublecheck your windscreen wash is properly topped up with the right mix of anti-freeze and water too, so your visibility is always as good as it can be.

Time when you drive

As we mentioned earlier, the roads tend to clog up around Christmas. Some of these times can be easy to predict – such as the last few working days before Christmas clashing with the usual commuter traffic, while city centres and towns tend to see more visitors too. With Christmas parties in full swing, you can also rely on Thursday and Friday evenings throughout the month being a lot busier.

So if you need to drive for work during these periods, consider timing your trips around when you know the roads will be less busy – and if you can’t, then make sure you or your drivers are prepared for delays caused by Christmas traffic and build it into your schedule.

Watch out the day after

Sadly it’s not just the traffic that increases at this time of year – the risk of drink driving does too. This is simply because of the higher number of parties taking place, with celebrations between friends, families and work colleagues all crammed into a few weeks. Obviously drink driving is a serious offence all year round, but the risk to watch out for is the morning after the party.

Alcohol can stay in your system for a long time and if you went all out with your celebrations, you may not be sober enough the next day to drive. As the RAC puts it: “if you need to think about whether you’re in a fit state to drive, the chances are you’re probably not.” Make sure you remember this if you’re driving yourself and that all drivers you employ know it too.

Manage your risks

One of the best ways to make sure you and any drivers are safe behind the wheel is through risk management – basically training and guidance from safety specialists to try to prevent accidents happening in the first place.

At DNA, we offer a range of risk management support, from vehicle telematics that track vehicle usage and driver behaviour to dedicated training courses that put safety first – all helping to keep your insurance premium down. If you’re worried that road risks will increase at this time of year, just give us a shout and we can help.

Get the right insurance

With busy roads, bad weather and the Christmas rush right around the corner, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the right cover. Here at DNA, we specialise in motor trade insurance – and we’ll find you a competitive quote for your road risks and premises in no time.

Offering no-nonsense service and straight-talking advice, our team can sort you out with motor trade insurance, courier van insurance, fleet cover and much more, depending on your needs. Just give us a call on 01708 988952 or use our online form. Merry Christmas!