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5 Tips For Your Fleet When Driving At Dusk And Dawn.

5 Tips For Your Fleet When Driving At Dusk And Dawn.
On Apr 08, 24

Even for the most diligent fleet manager, it’s hard to keep tabs on everything that poses a risk to the company fleet. Get everything ‘right’ and you can still find yourself awakened by late-night road incidents, only to deal with the costs and admin from vehicle downtime, liabilities, third-party negotiations and driver or customer injuries.

So it makes sense to avoid these issues whenever you can. Surprisingly, one big way to make a difference is to address your fleet policies for driving at dusk and at dawn.

Because driving gets riskier right around sunset and sunrise hours, when glare and shadows are part of the picture, it’s very important to establish rules for your drivers at those times. In this blog, we’ll share five driver tips for safe fleet operations when dusk and dawn driving is required, and how First Rescue can be of help.

Learn all you need to know about Driver Training here.

Drivers should...

1. Check the condition of vehicle headlights

On the road, headlights not only help drivers see, but they're also a very important driver-to-driver signal. Needless to say, they should always be in good shape.

First, ensure that all fleet vehicle headlights and taillights are working and responding appropriately. They should stay polished and clean so they cast a clear beam at all times.

Second, drivers should use the headlights whenever they’re behind the wheel. Instead of relying on manual controls for headlights, automatic controls should always be used to make certain they are on.

High beams can blind oncoming drivers, so fleet operators should avoid using them unless conditions make it absolutely necessary.

2. Avoid driving when fatigued or drowsy

Tiredness can cause driving impairment in ways similar to alcohol consumption. It’s even more of a problem at dusk, when drivers are winding down for the evening, and at dawn, when drivers may not yet be fully alert.

If possible, avoid planning routes that extend into dusk or start before dawn. For those drivers who report serious issues with sleepine ss in the very early or late hours, strongly consider not scheduling trips at those times.