.jpg)
Summer is often associated with better weather and longer days, but it can also bring increased risks for organisations whose employees drive as part of their role.
For care providers, particularly those delivering domiciliary care, safe driving is an essential part of delivering high-quality care. However, the risks are not limited to home care services. Care homes, supported living providers and other care organisations may also have staff who drive for appointments, errands, assessments or when transporting residents.
Understanding the additional challenges that summer brings can help reduce accidents, protect employees and minimise disruption to your service.
Several factors combine to make summer one of the busiest periods on UK roads.
These include:
While road conditions may appear better than during winter, the increased volume of road users can significantly raise the likelihood of collisions.
Extreme temperatures can affect both drivers and vehicles.
Drivers may experience:
Vehicles can also be affected by:
Regular vehicle checks become even more important during prolonged periods of warm weather.
Employees who drive for work are representing your organisation every time they get behind the wheel.
Road traffic collisions can result in:
Managing occupational driving risk is therefore an important part of overall business risk management.
There are several practical steps organisations can take to improve driver safety during the summer months.
Discuss the additional hazards associated with summer driving, including heavier traffic, vulnerable road users and the effects of hot weather.
Planning routes in advance can help avoid congestion and reduce unnecessary stress.
Where possible:
Good planning helps reduce rushed decisions behind the wheel.
Regular refresher training helps reinforce safe driving behaviours.
Topics might include:
Drivers should complete basic vehicle checks before setting off, including:
A well-maintained vehicle is less likely to experience problems on the road.
Technology can help reduce collision risk.
Examples include:
These systems can improve driver awareness while also supporting incident investigations if required.
Ensure every driver has easy access to:
Prompt reporting can help reduce the impact of an incident and speed up the claims process.
Yes.
If employees drive as part of their role, organisations have a duty to manage occupational driving risks.
This includes:
Reviewing these areas regularly helps reduce both operational and insurance risk.
Which care providers are most affected by driving risks?
Domiciliary care providers typically have the highest exposure because carers spend significant time travelling between clients. However, care homes, supported living providers and other care organisations should also manage occupational driving risks where staff drive for work.
Why are tyres more important during hot weather?
Higher temperatures increase tyre pressure and can contribute to tyre wear or failure if tyres are under-inflated or already damaged.
Should employers provide driver safety training?
Regular refresher training is considered good practice and helps reinforce safe driving behaviours, hazard awareness and incident reporting procedures.
What should staff check before driving?
Basic checks should include tyres, lights, coolant, windscreen washer fluid, mirrors and fuel levels before beginning a journey.
At Quality Care Group, we believe effective risk management is about preventing incidents before they happen.
Our Risk and Claims team works closely with care providers to identify operational risks, improve resilience and reduce the likelihood of costly claims.
From occupational driving risks to business continuity planning, we're here to help organisations protect their people, vehicles and reputation.
If you'd like practical advice on managing occupational driving risks or would like to review your organisation's wider risk management strategy, get in touch with Quality Care Group today.
We're here to help you keep your people safe and your organisation moving forward.
.jpg)
