This month we focus on the importance of carrying out Internal Vehicle Checks.
These checks support company procedures and encourage Operators to take responsibility for their company vehicle plus the safety of any load they may be
carrying. The Vehicle Check is ready to use within the business Assured Management System (AMS).
The importance of staying hydrated will help Operators focus behind the wheel and avoid dehydration leading to feeling unwell when driving. Take a look at our advice.
THE VALUE OF REGULAR VEHICLE CHECKS
The checks should be undertaken monthly. Each Operator is responsible for carrying out the checks. If defects are identified these are to be reported within the Audit & identified as “NO” along with comments of the non-conformance. This audit will immediately be sent as a non-conformance internally & a response ( if needed) to the corrective actions to be taken will be sent back. If a vehicle requires immediate attention contact the Fleet control & administration team to agree the action to be undertaken.
A record of each check undertaken is held centrally to enable checks to be monitored and progress recorded.
THE EFFECTS OF DEHYDRATION ON DRIVING STANDARDS
We are all enjoying the summer weather with temperatures set to reach 30 degrees in some parts of the UK this week. The important issue of staying hydrated and avoiding dehydration when driving is easy to forget once the aircon in a vehicle starts to cool the interior down, you will not necessarily be aware of being dehydrated as long as you feel cool during driving.
Figures show that an estimated 70 – 90% of the UK population are dehydrated at any one time. Staying hydrated is important in order to stay focused and safe behind the wheel. Here we provide some interesting facts to remember:
- the recommended fluid intake per day is 2.5 litres for men and 2 litres for women
- around 27% of professional drivers rely on sugary or caffeinated drinks during the day
- drinking water is the best choice for staying hydrated and healthy
- fruit has a high percentage of water and is a good choice for anyone who maybe unable to drink large amounts when on busy schedules
- keeping hydrated when driving aids focus and avoids fatigue, drowsiness and distraction – three of the main causes of road incidents
- a reduction of 2 – 3% of hydration can mean a 20% loss of concentration, reaction times when driving will be significantly slower
- the human body is made of 60% water, the more dehydrated you get your blood, muscles, heart and brain are all affected, and this significantly impacts how you perform any task.
Research by The University of Loughborough found that people who were dehydrated and driving committed the same number of errors as those that had a couple of alcoholic drinks.
If you go for a few drinks at the pub on a warm summer evening, you should ideally rehydrate once you return home, and the next morning ensure you are sufficiently hydrated before starting driving for work. It can take up to 72 hours to return to a normal level of hydration after an evening of drinking and until a normal level of hydration is reached driving ability will be compromised.
We encourage you to keep a bottle of water in the vehicle, options such as fruit and isotonic drinks are also helpful for staying hydrated and safe on the roads.
