Should you take it or leaves it?
At this time of year it is more important than ever for you to look ahead at the road, plan and react in the correct manner. Especially as we may be getting the first sleet or snow of the year today.
The leaves have fallen off the trees and the wet weather has made them stick to the road in clumps of varying size. Now this is important because these leaves will form a barrier between your tyres and the road surface, this means that the grip you had with the road is broken and you are likely to skid especially if the leaves are in a number of layers.
The bottom leaf may have stuck to the road and the top leaf may have stuck to your tyre, but it is unlikely that the two leaves will stick to each other and you will be sliding off towards the undergrowth at a rate of knots. The only solution is to lower your speed to a sensible level in the same way you would if it were icy or there was a covering of snow on the ground. Always slow down before you try to change direction and don’t accelerate until you are pointing in the right direction.
If you need any help in developing your policies and drivers the give the team a call on 01623 675833.
Nigel Grainger
Senior Consultant
Fleet Risk Consultants
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