Spring is officially here, although we might not know it with the great British weather, keeping us on our toes! The change in road conditions across the seasons can impact your fleet safety, so it’s important you and your employees are prepared.
In this blog you’ll learn about essential spring vehicle checks including how to check and look after tyres, lights, fluid levels, wiper blades, as well as tips for a safer fleet.
If you’re a UK-based business looking for full fleet solution support to help you manage your fleet, take a look at our Business Fleets page to see how we can help.
Spring's Impact on Your Fleet
Weather in Spring is unpredictable as temperatures can vary from feeling quite warm in the daytime in the sunshine, to lower and frostier conditions in the evenings and early mornings. The best driving tip for your employees is not to switch from winter driving too quickly, and still take care and look out for ice.
As daylight hours increase, so does the number of vehicles on the road. Motorbikes that might not have been on the road in the winter months, start to venture out again, and with more vehicles, the risk for road accidents can increase. Offer safety driving tips to your employees, advising them to continue to stay alert and be conscious of more bikes on the roads.
Potholes on the road can also get worse in Winter, so when the roads are no longer wet or icy, large potholes can appear and tyres can get damaged. Don’t rush to remove the winter tyres on your fleet vehicles and replace with summer tyres – winter tyres are better on warm roads than summer tyres on icy or cold roads.
Keeping a regular check on all your fleet vehicles and making sure any preventative maintenance is carried out should help to avoid breakdowns and costly repairs.
Essential Spring Vehicle Checks
Your fleet vehicles should be reviewed regularly by your employees, as they have a responsibility to ensure their car is road safe, but equally your fleet manager also needs to be monitoring that vehicle checks are being performed. Let’s take a look at the essential maintenance vehicle checks for Spring.
Tyres
The legal tyre tread depth for cars in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre. A tyre tread gauge can be used to ensure tyres are roadworthy. Alternatively, a good safe driving tip for checking the tread depth is using a 20p coin. Put the coin into the grooves of a tyre and as long as the rim is hidden then the tyre as the 20p coin is just less than 3mm wide – then the tyre is above the legal tread limit.
As well as checking the tread, your employees also need to check with tyre pressure. The correct pressure varies from car to car, and this will be listed in the vehicle handbook. Tyre pressures can also measure differently depending on if the tyres are warm or cold, they should always be tested when they’re cold for an accurate reading.
General tyre damage such as bulges, cracks, or foreign objects lodged in the tread should also be considered as part of a vehicle health check and should your employees find any damage, ask that they report it to your fleet manager as soon as possible.
Lights
Employees should test all headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard lights to confirm they’re all functioning properly. They might need some help from a colleague or your fleet manager to do this vehicle checklist.
Lights should be turned on or activated and then reviewed. They should be even from one side of the car to the other, they should be bright, and if they’re showing any signs of dimming or discolouration then the bulbs maybe need changing. It’s up to you to decide whether your employees to change the bulbs themselves or book a maintenance appointment.
It’s also worthwhile cleaning light lenses, cleaner lenses will provide optimal light output both for the increased daylight hours that comes with Spring, as well as potentially challenging weather conditions.
You could carry out vehicle analysis to review if the higher business cost of running electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in comparison to petrol and diesels can be offset by their lower running costs and performance. You should also take your fleet mileage into account and determine if there’s any way to reduce it, perhaps by ensuring drivers are taking the most cost-effective routes.
Fluid Levels
To check the oil level, your employees need to remove the dipstick and wipe it clean before slowly inserting it back into the tube and push it all the way down, remove it and look closely at the tip. If the level of the oil is between the two lines, the vehicle has enough oil but if it’s closer to the lower line or below, the oil needs topping up. Newer oil will be golden in colour, but it gets darker and can become almost black. It’s still effective, but it’s recommended that oil is checked regularly, especially before a long journey.
Washer fluid is another element of your fleet vehicles that needs checking, as it might need refilling. A safe driving tip is to advise your employees to add winter-strength solution, so they’re prepared to handle potential spring showers.
Wiper Blades
If any cars within your fleet have windscreen wiper wear and tear, such as cracks, splits, or uneven wiping patterns, they should be replaced as soon as possible. Signs of damage include streaking, smearing, chattering, juddering or squeaking.
Without effective windscreen wiper blades, your employees’ safety could be at risk if they’re unable to see clearly due to the wiper blades not effectively clearing rain or debris from the windscreen.
Brakes
An indicator of worn brakes pads could be any unusual noises while braking, such as grinding or squealing. Equally if a vehicle takes longer to come to a stop, the brake pedal vibrates when pressed or there a brake warning light on the dashboard – all of these are signs that the brake pads need to be checked and might need replacing.
The condition of brake pads can sometimes be assessed without having to remove the wheel if you can see the pads through the gaps in the wheel. It’s the thickness of the pads that’s most important and if they’re less than 4mm, they need to be replaced.
Alternatively, if the brake pad isn’t visible, your fleet cars will need to be inspected by a garage or mechanic and have the tyre removed so the thickness of the pad can be measured.
Vehicle Tax and MOT
Have you completed a vehicle check for tax? You can ensure your fleet is Spring ready by using the DVLA website or app to do a vehicle check online for the current tax status and MOT expiry date for all fleet vehicles.
If you have a large fleet, booking MOT tests well in advance is a good idea to avoid downtime if your employees use their company car on a daily basis, and it also reduces the risk of any penalties for overdue or failed MOTs.
Spring Driving Tips for a Safer Fleet
Remember the unpredictable conditions Spring can bring. Advise your employees to carry out vehicle health checks, take onboard tips for driving in varying weather conditions that can change from brighter mornings and evenings, and to do car checks before a long journey.
Driving safety tips include a maintaining a safe distance at all times, adjusting speed for rain and avoiding puddles. Encourage your drivers to be vigilant for potholes and navigate them safely, as well as offering driving tips for avoiding defensive driving, staying alert, and avoiding distractions.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) can provide more information on safe driving practices.
Legal Requirements and Compliance
The DVSA advises a number of daily checks for vehicles, and you should encourage your employees to adopt this vehicle checklist, which includes:
External Vehicle Condition
Bodywork, windscreen and wiper blades, windows, lights, and tyres.
Fluids
Engine oil, coolant, washer fluid, brake/clutch fluid, power steering fluid.
Vehicle Interior & Equipment
Condition and function of seat belts, head rest and mirror positions.
It’s important to maintain accurate and up-to-date vehicle records for all your fleet vehicles to ensure the safety of your employees.
Going the Extra Mile: ULEZ & Green Initiatives
If you’re based in Greater London or your employees live or travel through it, your car fleet will be subject to the Ultra Low Emission Zone charges. To reduce your costs, you could explore options for electric or low-emission vehicles to begin your journey to a greener fleet.
We can help you make the transition to an electric fleet, no matter where you are on your journey. For more information, take a look at Our Solutions.
Spring Fleet Solutions
With Spring weather on the horizon, it’s important to be proactive with vehicle maintenance and safe driving practices for a successful Spring season.
If you’re looking for help to manage your fleet solution through every season, click here to see how we can help your Business Fleets or get in touch with us today.
