How does time of the day and driving patterns affect fleet safety?

Vehicle safety is always important, but it is especially important to be aware of during certain times of the day. For example, driving during the early morning hours can be more dangerous as the visibility is often poorer. Similarly, driving late at night can also be more dangerous because of reduced visibility and increased fatigue. If you must drive during these times, be sure to take extra caution and allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.

There are several risks associated with driving at night. First, visibility is significantly reduced, making it more difficult to see potential hazards on the road. Second, fatigue is a common problem among night-time drivers, as the body's natural circadian rhythms make it harder to stay awake and alert during the late hours. Finally, there is an increased risk of drunk driving during the night, as people are more likely to go out and drink alcohol in the evening. All of these factors combine to make night-time driving a potentially dangerous activity. Another important aspect is animals - during the late evening and night hours they are more active, which means there is an increased chance of hitting an animal on the road.

According to a study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 41% of fatal car accidents happen at night. This is likely due to the combination of factors mentioned above. Drivers should exercise caution when driving at night, and be sure to take breaks frequently to avoid fatigue.

Although weather conditions are not directly connected with the time of the day, they still play an important role, as the weather conditions combined with the time of the day will make matters worse. For example, if it's raining in the daytime, it's not that much different from regular driving. If it is raining during the night time, the risks are increasing significantly. Consider these weather conditions during night time:

• Snow
• Sleet
• Freezing rain
• Heavy rain
• Storms
• Dust storms
• Fog

Drivers need to be aware of the potential dangers of the road conditions and take necessary precautions. Wet weather can create slick surfaces that can lead to accidents, so it is important to slow down and increase following distances. Snow and ice can also make driving treacherous, so it is important to take it slow and be cautious when operating a vehicle in these conditions. Wind can also impact a driver's ability to control their vehicle, so it is important to be aware of gusts and secure any loose items in the vehicle.

Apart from time of the day and weather conditions, it's also important to note that driving location also plays a role in assessing risks. If you're driving in a highway traffic and driving long distances, it's definitely a lot more safer than driving a lot of intra-city routes, for example driving a waste collection truck.

When discussing fleet insurance options with insurance companies, they usually try to figure out the driving patterns of your fleet. Taking the considerations above, they will calculate some risk premium for your insurance. What can you do about it? Not that much - if your drivers need to drive at those conditions due to business reasons, you shouldn't stop them from driving, however you can provide them guidance and training on driving in extreme driving conditions, make them aware of the statistics so that they will drive with a lot more caution in high risk conditions.