Christmas time in New Zealand - a great time of family gatherings, backyard cricket, barbecues and the outdoors. There’s one major aspect of the holiday season though, that’s often overlooked...road safety. There are more cars on the road during the summer months than at any other time of year, bringing unfortunately a higher risk of crashes.

This is something for employers to consider, not only for yourself but for your staff. By protecting employees from seasonal safety hazards, you’re also protecting your business.

Minimising accidents, keeping drivers on the road, and reducing costs to your fleet is vital. All businesses need to keep drivers as safe as possible, while ensuring their Health and Safety (H&S) practices are up-to-date with changes to the law.

That’s where we can help. In this blog, we offer some handy road safety tips to help everyone in your fleet remain safe through the holiday driving season. Buckle up and read on, to find out more.

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Preparation is essential when it comes to keeping your drivers safe. As part of your H&S practice, ensure you have a comprehensive training programme in place. This should teach drivers to deal with risks when faced with dangerous situations and will mean they are well prepared ahead of the busy season.

Also check you have an effective distracted driving policy and if not, implement one. Distracted driving is a major cause of car accidents. In 2016, it contributed to 23 fatal crashes and sadly, this statistic is on the rise.

Tips for drivers:

• Slow down. Given increased traffic volumes, there is a lower speed tolerance during official holiday periods. Police often take action against drivers detected driving more than 4km over the speed limit.
• Stay alert. Check for any changes to your route and plan ahead. This might include closed lanes, alternative routes, delays, and incidents. New Zealand Transport Agency provides real-time updates on highway conditions so check these before you leave.
• Watch out for fatigue. Tiredness can be deadly when you're driving. In fact, it was a contributing factor in 54 road deaths and nearly 1000 injuries in 2016. Rest before a long trip so you drive fresh and alert. Also consider in advance where you’ll take breaks during your trip.
• Be courteous. Traffic increases significantly during the holidays and you’ll be sharing the road with cars, cyclists, buses, campervans and vehicles towing boats or caravans. Remember to keep a safe following distance and consider other users at all times. Let others merge into traffic, keep left unless passing and don’t be provoked if other drivers show aggressive behaviour. Be particularly aware of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as they have considerably less protection than you.
• Drive to the conditions. This doesn’t just mean the weather. It also includes the road quality, traffic conditions, speed and the vehicle and load you’re carrying. Consider the conditions and drive accordingly.

Everyone wants their drivers to stay safe during the holiday season. Increased traffic, congestion, tiredness and driving in unfamiliar environments can all contribute to accidents. By following our tips, you’ll help your drivers stay alert and calm when it’s needed most.

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