Miranda Blake
News & Updates • 3 min read

A truck driver’s guide to winter in Europe

Created: 16/10/2024

Updated: 11/11/2024

Truck drivers face a unique set of challenges and responsibilities in the colder seasons. There’s a surge in serious road traffic accidents with 33% of insurance claims made during this time deemed severe.

And so, preparation is crucial. Here, we guide on how truck drivers can stay safe both on the road and inside their cab this winter.

Navigating stormy conditions

It’s key to drive slowly and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles – especially in flooded areas. You should put your truck in low gear and keep your engine revving.

The following tips will also help with driving in stormy weather.

• If you lose control on surface water, slow down by releasing your foot off the accelerator – don’t attempt to brake or steer suddenly.
• Higher vehicles are more vulnerable to intense winds – make sure to hold the wheel tightly and avoid bridges where possible.
• Travel with the curtain sides open if your truck is empty. This way, there's less to catch in the wind.

Managing snow and ice

Going at a reduced pace and keeping the required distance from the vehicle in front is also something you should do when there’s ice and snow. In fact, it’s recommended that you increase braking distance to 10 times the normal amount – however, it can be difficult to judge this. An Admiral survey found that black ice causes 10% of accidents during winter. You can tell if you're driving on black ice if the road looks wet but there's no spray coming from other vehicles.

Other tips to help you drive in the snow include maintaining regular truck inspections and ensuring you have all the necessary equipment before your journey, such as jump cables and de-icing tools. Plus, always be aware of the gear you should be in, as this could save you from losing control of your truck. On flat surfaces, drive in the highest gear possible. When going downhill, utilise the engine brake and travel in low gears. To avoid wheel spinning, use a higher gear when pulling away – this will give you the traction needed to move the vehicle.

Ensuring visibility

With hazardous highways and external factors negatively impacting vision and causing truck accidents, visibility is crucial in all weathers, especially when it’s chillier. So, make sure to check for chips or cracks in your windscreen, as these can spread quicker in the colder months.

In addition, you’ll want the highest level of visibility for your lights, licence plate, and windshield. As well as cleaning off any snow or dirt, it’s wise to regularly wash your vehicle to avoid road salt accumulating (this triggers corrosion).

If visibility is poor and conditions get to the point of treacherous, then it's best to get off the road and rest at the nearest truck stop. If you end up needing to exceed your driving hours, then you can use a special dispensation for drivers who are stuck in unique circumstances like extreme weather events.

Assessing tyre tread depth

Low temperatures can also impact the functionality of your tyres as they can trigger reduced air pressure. And with worn tyres unfortunately adding to your stopping distance and reducing your level of stability on wet and icy roads, this low tread will cause sliding.

As a result, it’s a good idea to check tread depth prior to each journey in stormy and other harsh conditions – this way, you’ll be aware when you need to deal with any problems that arise.

Following winter tyre regulations

It’s vital to know about the varying winter tyre regulations too. Some countries oblige drivers to carry sandbags and shovels, while snow chains are mandatory in others. Continental has collated a simple guide to the winter tyre requirements for the UK and Europe.

From November 1st, winter tyres are compulsory in:

  • Austria
  • Czech Republic
  • Finland
  • France
  • Lithuania
  • Serbia

In other countries, they’re mandatory later in the month or December or they’re dependent on weather conditions. As for studded tyres, while they’re allowed in the below countries, there’s strict rules surrounding them. It’s best to check the regulations for each country before your journey.

  • Austria
  • Belarus
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Great Britain
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Norway
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine

Bringing relevant supplies

You’ll also need to think about how you can look after yourself in winter. This will sound obvious, but make sure you have access to sufficient food and drink. With there being an increased chance of road closures during the colder seasons, you may not always be able to get to a truck stop. Come prepared with snack or meal options, along with ideally a hot beverage in a flask.

Especially if you’re unable to access a place to rest, ensure you can stay warm. For example, take along rechargeable heating packs. Likewise, always have warm and spare clothing at hand; this will be particularly helpful if garments get cold and wet through tasks such as getting rid of snow from your windshield.

Ideally, you’ll have a winter survival kit – consisting of the likes of food, drink, a portable phone charger, a torch, blankets, a high-vis vest, a shovel, and durable walking shoes.

Guarantee access to rest stops with intruck

While the weather isn’t in your control, protecting yourself and others on the road is. This includes making sure you have a safe and secure place to park as soon as possible. Our intruck app or maps page will tell you nearby service providers along with information around the facilities each offers.

You can download the intruck app today by clicking this link.

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Friday 08 November 2024 • News & Updates

DART CHARGE ACCOUNT – SIMPLIFY YOUR PAYMENTS

Miranda Blake

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Customers can set up a pre-pay account, which offers automated billing and a discounted crossing rate. Such a hassle-free approach ensures that payments are made seamlessly, with the account being automatically debited for each crossing. For those who don't have a pre-pay account, the option to pay online, by phone, or at Payzone retail outlets is available. Payments can be made in advance or by midnight the following day. The Dartford Crossing is free to use between the hours of 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, providing a cost-effective option for nighttime journeys.Curious as to what the Dart Charge rates are? These vary depending on the vehicle class and whether the customer has a pre-pay account or is making a one-off payment. Here’s a breakdown of the current charges:You can also .Maintaining your Dart Charge account is crucial for avoiding fines and streamlining your crossings. 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Friday 01 November 2024 • News & Updates

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Friday 25 October 2024 • News & Updates

DRIVERS' WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE: A GUIDE FOR TRUCK DRIVERS

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As a lorry driver in the UK, it’s crucial to have a firm grasp of the complex regulations surrounding driver working hours and rest periods. The Drivers’ Working Time Directive (WTD), also known as the Road Transport Directive, is a set of rules that governs the maximum hours a driver can work, the mandatory breaks they must take, and the required rest periods they must observe. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in hefty fines and even the immobilisation of your vehicle.The Drivers’ Working Time Directive is a European Union legislation that aims to ensure the safety of all road users by preventing fatigue-related accidents. apply to those driving vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes, regardless of whether the individual operates within the UK or across the EU.Under the WTD, truck drivers in the UK are subject to a daily driving cap of 9 hours, which can be increased to 10 hours a maximum of twice per week. After 4.5 hours of continuous or intermittent driving, drivers must take a break of at least 45 minutes. Alternatively, they can opt for a split break, where the first is at least 15 minutes, followed by a second of at least 30 minutes.There’s a weekly driving limit for UK lorry drivers, which is 56 hours, while the fortnightly cap is 90 hours. This means that if a driver clocks 56 hours in 1 week, they can only work for 34 hours the following week to ensure they do not go over the 90-hour fortnightly limit.In addition to the driving time restrictions, the WTD also imposes limits on the total number of hours a driver can work per week. Average weekly working time, including both driving and non-driving tasks, must not surpass 48 hours, calculated over a 17-week or 26-week reference period. Maximum working time in a single week is 60 hours, provided the 48-hour average is not exceeded.The WTD requires to take a daily rest period of at least 11 consecutive hours, which can be split into 2 periods with the first being at least 3 hours long. Drivers can also opt for a reduced daily rest period of nine hours, but this can only be done up to three times per week. Additionally, a weekly rest period of at least 45 hours is mandatory, although this can be lowered to 24 hours once in a 2-week period.While the WTD applies to the majority of UK lorry drivers, there are certain exceptions that may apply in specific circumstances. For example, those who do not drive more than 10 times within a 26-week period or 15 times within a timeframe exceeding 26 weeks may not be required to monitor their working time directive.Failing to adhere to the WTD can have serious consequences for both drivers and . Drivers caught in breach of the regulations can face fines of up to £1,500, and if they break the rules more than 5 times in 28 days, they may be taken to court and have their vehicle immobilised.For fleet operators, the onus is on maintaining compliance throughout the entire fleet. Neglecting to implement sufficient measures to monitor and enforce the WTD can result in the DVSA issuing a notice to improve, and in extreme cases, a requirement to cease operations until the issues are resolved.To effectively manage driver working hours and ensure compliance with the WTD, fleet operators should consider investing in tachograph-integrated fleet management solutions. These purpose-built technologies allow for efficient monitoring of driver behaviour and automatic logging of driving and working time data, making it virtually impossible for non-compliance to go unnoticed.By partnering with a trusted provider like , fleet operators can leverage cutting-edge fleet management tools and gain access to a comprehensive network of service partners, making sure that their drivers have the support they need to stay compliant and safe on the road.There’s also the in the UK to consider. It’s proving to be a big problem within the industry. The industry has seen a drop in HGV drivers – the pandemic delayed 30,000 tests for new drivers, and Brexit hit fleet companies hard – with many European truck drivers leaving the UK. A 2023 report from SNAP suggests the sector could reach a 'tipping point' in the next 10-15 years. It may prove that the Drivers’ Working Time Directive is just what the industry needs to make the profession desirable again and provide better balance for drivers. Learn more about what can be done to tackle the driver shortage by .