Navigating Summer Road Risks

The summer months bring sunshine, holidays, and unfortunately, an increased risk on our roads. At Quality Care Group, we're committed to supporting our clients in providing exceptional care, and that extends to ensuring the safety of their staff, particularly those who drive for work. This commitment to proactive risk management helps our clients avoid incidents and manage potential claims effectively.

We understand that this subject applies mainly to domiciliary care providers, as their staff frequently drive to clients' homes. However, it's crucial to remember that care home owners and operators also have staff who drive, whether it's for errands, appointments, or transporting residents. The principles of road safety apply universally.

Summer Driving: A Perfect Storm of Risk

During the summer, our roads experience a significant surge in activity. More people are taking to the roads for holidays and day trips, leading to busier traffic and an increased likelihood of accidents. We also unfortunately see a rise in drivers who may be under the influence of alcohol or driving more recklessly. Add to this the increased presence of pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users, and you have a complex environment requiring heightened vigilance.

The hot weather itself can also contribute to vehicle issues. Under-inflated tyres and punctures become more common, potentially leading to dangerous situations.

What You Can Do to Control Risk

As employers, the safety of your employees who drive for work purposes is ultimately your responsibility. Here are some actionable steps you can take for controlling risk during summer driving:

• Educate Your Staff: Openly discuss the potential dangers of summer driving with your team. Remind them what to watch out for, from increased traffic and erratic drivers to vulnerable road users.
• Plan Your Routes: Encourage and facilitate route planning. Review common routes and consider swapping to less busy ones during peak times. Emphasise that journey times may take longer than usual and encourage staff to have a back-up route in mind. Proactive planning can prevent poor, on-the-spot decisions.
• Review Staff Training: When was the last time your employees received safe driving training? Now is a timely reminder to reinforce driver safety practices and address any areas where additional training might be beneficial.
• Utilise Technology: Explore how technology can support safer driving. Dashcams, reversing cameras, and parking alarms can provide invaluable assistance to drivers and other road users, helping to prevent incidents.
• Conduct Regular Vehicle Checks: Before any outing, ensure vehicles are well-maintained. This includes checking tyre inflation and tread depth and verifying that coolant and windscreen wash levels are correct. A well-maintained vehicle is a safer vehicle.
• Keep Insurance Details Handy: Make it a priority to ensure all drivers have readily accessible insurance contact details in every vehicle. This enables incidents to be reported promptly. If you have breakdown cover, ensure this information is also easily available to all staff.

At Quality Care Group, we provide risk management advice because we believe in preventing issues before they arise. By taking these steps, you can help safeguard your staff, protect your vehicles, and ultimately, ensure the continued high quality of care you provide. If you have any questions about this or any risk mitigation advice, please do not hesitate to reach out.