With temperatures hitting record highs in June, hot weather is something that fleets can no longer treat as an occasional inconvenience.
The reality of managing heatwaves and road safety is that it’s a regular occurrence, so it needs to be factored into plans and safety checks moving forward.
Breakdowns have increased during the heatwave, with incidents on key motorway routes bringing traffic to a standstill on several occasions over recent weeks, which has a knock-on effect on drivers and routes too.
And with breakdowns and incidents quickly becoming a road safety and driver welfare issue (not to mention the operational disruption), it’s difficult to contend with.
As summers become hotter and extreme weather events become more common, fleet operators are being urged to think carefully about how prepared their vehicles, drivers and processes really are.
Does Hot Weather Increase Road Safety Risk?
High temperatures place extra strain on vehicles with engines having to work harder and cooling systems being putter extreme pressure to cope. On top of that, tyres can become more vulnerable as they cope with the higher temperatures while carrying heavy loads.
For fleet vehicles covering high mileage, that risk can compound and before you know it, you’re putting a severe amount of strain on your vehicles.
A tyre failure on a motorway, an overheated vehicle on a busy A-road or a driver stuck in slow-moving traffic during extreme heat can all create dangerous situations.
The vehicle issue may be the initial problem, but the safety risk comes from where it happens, how the driver responds and how quickly support is available.
It’s also a reality that drivers working in hot conditions can become tired, dehydrated, frustrated or less alert, while long delays in hot vehicles, particularly on congested roads, can quickly become uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.
For fleets, this means hot weather planning should not just sit under servicing and maintenance. It should be part of wider driver risk management.
So, what should fleets be checking?
Tyres should be checked regularly for tread, damage and correct pressure and cooling systems, coolant levels, batteries, air conditioning and warning lights should all be monitored closely, especially before longer journeys or periods of high demand.
Driver walkaround checks also become even more important in hot weather because a minor issue that might normally be manageable can become more serious when temperatures are high and vehicles are being worked hard.
But preparation should go beyond the vehicle itself, with drivers being reminded to carry an emergency pack with them, including water, phone chargers, food, blankets (even though they might not be needed in the heat) and food.
The Road Safety Impact For Fleets
The bigger point is that extreme weather changes the operating environment, with fleets now being urged to take the same approach to summer driving conditions as they do with wintry conditions.
That means identifying higher-risk vehicles, reviewing maintenance schedules, communicating with drivers and making sure breakdown and recovery procedures are clear.
It also means using fleet data properly because if certain vehicles are repeatedly reporting tyre issues, overheating problems or battery failures, that should be spotted early.
Hotter weather may not be something fleets can control, but preparedness is and with vehicle downtime, driver welfare and road safety all connected, having a clear view of your fleet has never been more important.
That is where Fleet Monitor and Risk Monitor can play a crucial role, helping fleets stay on top of vehicle condition, driver risk and the wider safety obligations that come with operating on UK roads.
