by Jeremy Rochfort, national sales manager Autoglass

Although the snow may have finally cleared, the rain is still set to fall, which is adding to the list of challenges fleet managers are tasked with this Spring. The weather can have a big effect on how managers assess cost, time and safety considerations. And, when it comes to bad weather there are few positives for managers hoping to cut their to-do lists!

Temperatures are generally getting warmer across the UK. However, this isn’t making fleet management any easier. The consistent below-freezing temperature is not only a catalyst for windscreen damage, but also for increased road accidents. Planning for adverse weather conditions is an issue fleet managers are well versed in, especially when it comes to safer driving strategies and fuel consumption. However, when it comes to windscreens there are extra precautions that should be considered.

At Autoglass we are firm believers in a repair-first philosophy. In cold weather, the frost on a windscreen can cause a small “chip” to turn into a crack, requiring a full windscreen replacement.  Not only can this result in increased costs in terms of full replacement rather than simple repair, it can also lead to more time off the road. A repair takes only 20 minutes compared to a windscreen replacement which can take up to 2 hours.

With a windscreen relating to 30 per cent of a vehicle’s structural strength it is vital that fleets should check, and act upon glass issues as a matter of priority. We encourage our fleet partners to instil a repair-first strategy across their workforce in order to maintain lower costs, and higher safety standards.

Not only can a chip result in more serious damage, but it can also result in impaired visibility. Our partner charity Brake recently supported our campaign around visibility, highlighting the 40 road deaths and 600 serious injuries every year linked to impaired vision on the road. It’s a serious message but one that we hope will take precedence as fleets look to spring clean their policies and set themselves up for a safe and successful season ahead.