For most individuals, summer time is one of the best time of 12 months. It means days out on the seashore, rural walks, and perhaps even a getaway. Nonetheless, for a lot of, it additionally means lengthy stretches of journey and hours spent in visitors. With 3.6 million travellers anticipated to hit the UK roads most weekends, no person is affected greater than HGV drivers.
Throughout the UK, HGV drivers work as much as 56 hours every week, even over the summer time. Throughout this time, they’re extra more likely to face challenges from each their automobiles and health-related points, like dehydration and fatigue, as a result of excessive temperatures. To assist HGV drivers keep protected on the street this summer time season, Matthew Briggs, CEO at Proper Gas Card, has supplied his knowledgeable perception into how they’ll navigate the roads and shield themselves throughout summer time. Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox On-line Pharmacy additionally supplied knowledgeable perception into the well being dangers that HGV drivers face in the course of the hotter months, and the way they are often prevented.
Automobile Dangers: Visitors-related accidents:
“Summertime is the busiest interval for UK roads, with an estimated 27 million leisure journeys anticipated all through the height of summer time. Consequently, the elevated variety of vehicles on the roads means an elevated variety of accidents, with a 59% enhance in speed-related deaths and critical accidents on the UK’s motorways and main A roads throughout summer time,” says Briggs. “Whereas it is very important follow protected driving all 12 months spherical, it’s vital for HGV drivers to have an elevated sense of consciousness, significantly when drivers on the street are usually not used to travelling lengthy distances.” The important thing issues to recollect whereas driving throughout heavy visitors are as follows:
• Keep away from tailgating, significantly on lengthy stretches of street.
• Take heed to blind spots, significantly for inexperienced drivers making an attempt to chop in.
• Attempt to be predictable for different drivers on the street and keep away from sudden adjustments in pace or lane place.
The ‘City Warmth Island’
“The ‘City Warmth Island (UHI) is when cities and concrete areas change into considerably hotter than their rural counterparts, particularly at evening. It’s a well-documented phenomenon brought on by how cities are constructed and the way they perform,” says Briggs. “A wide range of elements contribute to this, together with skyscrapers and slender streets, which might block wind and lure warmth, an absence of bushes and vegetation, in addition to roads and pavements which take up daylight in the course of the day. These elements result in a temperature enhance of between 3°C and 6°C in the course of the day.
“HGV drivers are significantly affected by this, as lengthy stops in visitors or dense metropolis centres can result in the cab’s temperature rising quickly, particularly if the A/C is just not efficient or fails. To keep away from getting caught out by this, attempt plan your path to keep away from built-up areas or metropolis centres. Typically this may be inconceivable relying in your vacation spot, if that’s the case, attempt to take your break if you end up out of the suburban space and attempt to pull over someplace extra rural.”
Mechanical Failures
“HGVs are among the many largest automobiles on the street, and because of this, they’ve many factors of failure,” he provides. “The commonest mechanical situation drivers can anticipate throughout summer time is the engine overheating. HGV engines already work exhausting, and an extended interval of excessive temperatures can push the cooling system over the sting. Moreover, if the coolant ranges are low or the radiator is clogged, they could start to steam from the bonnet mid-route. To keep away from this, often test the coolant ranges, fan belts and radiator.”
“Tyres can endure in the course of the summer time, they put on sooner, since sizzling asphalt and lengthy journeys enhance friction, particularly if roads are poorly maintained. A extra excessive situation brought on by the warmth is tire blowouts. This happens when warmth causes the tyres to develop, which is especially harmful if they’re over-inflated. A simple technique to forestall that is to test your tyres initially of every shift. This may sound pedantic, however automobiles are way more vulnerable to points in the summertime.”
Well being dangers in the course of the summer time
Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox On-line Pharmacy supplied her knowledgeable perception into the elevated well being dangers that HGV drivers face in the course of the summer time months.
Warmth-related fatigue and dehydration
“Fatigue and dehydration are two of the best risks for any driver. They typically happen collectively, and both one or each can kill. 68% of street accidents are as a result of driver error, which might be brought on by dehydration and fatigue,” she says. “Though many drivers could not realise it, dehydration is a reason behind fatigue. In a research by Loughborough College, drivers affected by dehydration have been discovered to commit as many driving errors as these driving inebriated.
“To keep away from this, begin the journey well-hydrated. Water is one of the best fluid you’ll be able to drink, however tea, espresso, fruit juice and squash additionally depend. Remember that tea and occasional comprise caffeine, which is a diuretic. This implies it makes you want the bathroom extra typically, which doesn’t assist fluid stability. Keep away from sugary, fizzy drinks and power drinks as these are usually not good at quenching thirst. Take water with you in your journey and sip a little bit and sometimes. Ensure you have a big, refillable water bottle that’s straightforward to seize and drink from whereas driving. You’ll be able to refill this once you cease for a break or to make use of the bathroom. Take some bottled water in case you want it. You should drink at the very least 8 ounces (one massive cup/glass) of water each hour.”
Solar, Sweat and Security
“HGV drivers will not be conscious that the glass within the automobile home windows doesn’t block UVA and solely blocks some UVB radiation. This implies drivers are liable to extra UV publicity, which will increase the chance of pores and skin cancers, in addition to inflicting untimely ageing of the pores and skin,” Dr Lee explains. “Drivers ought to use sunscreen with SPF 30 or above, plus at the very least 4 stars for anti-UVA safety. They need to additionally cowl up with lengthy sleeves and put on UV-blocking sun shades. At all times put on a hat and use SPF 50 sunscreen with care.”
Briggs added, “Driving an HGV in excessive warmth isn’t any small job – it’s bodily and mentally demanding in methods many don’t see. Lengthy hours on the street, solar glare, sizzling cabs, and the added pressure on automobiles all mix to make summer time one of many hardest occasions of 12 months for our drivers. It’s not nearly consolation; it’s about focus, security, and endurance.”
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