All posts by Joan

Lorry Drivers – Staying Calm During The Christmas Rush

There is no doubt about it, during the Christmas period there is a huge rush for everyone in every industry. This does not stop for lorry drivers, with them possibly facing the most stress from the Christmas rush with needing to ensure deliveries arrive on time to support the businesses customer rush.

But, lorry drivers, you need to try your best to remain calm during this time, and here’s how!

Firstly you need to remember that this is not in your control. Your job is to drive the lorry and arrive safely. You do not want to rush this job as if you do you will be putting your and others life in danger. So ensure that your road safety is always a top priority.

You should also try to remain calm by remembering the road situations are also not in your control. Car crashes can occur and delays can occur. These are out of your control so you need to go with the flow and take it one step at a time.

What To Do If You Break Down On A Smart Motorway?

Breaking down on a smart motorway, whilst it may not be the most common, it does still happen more often than you probably realise. So, what should you do if you break down on a smart motorway in the United Kingdom?

Break Down Lay-by
It is recommended that if you notice your car is beginning to break down, that you try your best to drive to the next breakdown lay-by. These are clearly signposted with big blue signs and SOS orange telephones. These should only be used in an emergency when you have truly broken down and cannot exit the motorway. This way you will be able to get put into immediate contact with a rescue service who will be able to come and help you quickly. These laybys also give you a safe area to leave your car and stay out of your car where it is very unlikely to get damaged by other motorists. If you wish to leave the emergency refuge area you will need to contact the office again using the SOS phone to alert them to this change, you may wish to leave if you have managed to solve the issue yourself.

Hard Should / Far Left Lane
If you are not able to make it to the ERA, you should pull over to the far left-hand lane or the hard shoulder. On smart motorways, there will be people keeping track of everyone travelling. So once they notice they will close the lane you are situated in to enable you to get help as soon as possible. If the lane does not close you should contact the motorway company and alert them of your situation.

Stay Behind The Crash Barrier
No matter how tempting it is, you should not stay sitting in your vehicle as you never know when a crash may occur especially with a stationary vehicle on a high-speed road. To keep yourself and other passengers safe, you should situate yourself behind the crash barrier until help arrives.

Long Distance Driving Isn’t For Everyone

You hear about it all the time, most people enjoy long-distance driving. But the truth is, this form of driving just isn’t for everyone. There are some people who would prefer to stay in their hometown and not go on long-distance drives.

But why isn’t long-distance driving for everyone?

Travel Sickness
Some people can suffer severely from travel sickness. This is the most common for long-distance drives. So, if you are someone who suffers from travel sickness it is likely that you will be put off of going on drives that are long distanced. No one enjoys being sick, so it is easy to understand why they may not be the best fan of this.

Tiredness
Some people find long-distance driving extremely tiring. So whilst some may enjoy this, and enjoy the time being able to stop off at services and chat to others. Some people hate it and just want to go from point A to point B in one single journey. Driving, in general, is tiring, so people who do not enjoy this feeling will not enjoy long-distance driving.

Fear
Some people may also have a fear. The most common fear is that you may be involved in an accident. This fear can be caused by your mind, maybe you have had a dream about it, or you’ve been involved in a crash before. This fear can take over and make it impossible for you to feel safe when driving for a long time. Sometimes it is that you are scared of other drivers rather than yourself so it is best for you to stay off the roads for as long as possible.

These are just a few of the reasons why some people may not be the biggest fan of long-distance driving. So, before you judge, remember there is always a reason behind their feelings.

Saving money is just one aspect — A security company will make a huge difference to your business

With the economy going up and down, it’s a wonderful time to have a security company that you can rely on for your business.

A security company will give your business the support it needs in a way of a security system, protecting your team, assets and buildings. The first thing is the safety of people who work there and secondly, the property itself. There are many different companies that provide these services, but finding the right one may be difficult. You need to ask yourself some important questions before hiring one.

What kind of service do I need?

This is obviously an important question as this will affect how much money you spend too! Do you need 24-hour monitoring or perhaps just weekly visits from a patrol officer? Is an alarm enough or do you require CCTV coverage? You may not know exactly what you require, but even if you have a budget in mind, you can start working with a security company on a solution that will make a meaningful difference to your organisation.

Choose SIA Guards

It may seem surprising, but if you go for a company that is an SIA-approved contractor, it will be a big step towards protecting your business. There are all sorts of security company Leicester who offer security services to try and profit from the demand without being regulated so they have no legal obligation to keep guard of standards or provide quality customer service. Compromising on any part of your security measures can lead to serious problems in the long run, leaving you vulnerable to break-ins and other potential dangers.

How much experience do they have?

In many cases, experience pays off as firms realise how important it is to put their customers first and develop good relationships with them. A lot of firms say they can provide a great service, however, if they lack any experience, then it will be evident in their customer service skills and the end product. It is always best to work with firms that have been around for some time as you know they can handle themselves on a professional level and provide expertise for your needs.

Is there a 24/7 emergency number?

When it comes to security, emergencies occur at all hours of the day and night so it is crucial that your company offers round the clock assistance if anything should happen. Some companies may only offer limited holiday services or certain days of the week where they are unavailable but this simply isn’t good enough when something important has happened such as an attempted break-in.

Are there different levels of cover available?

You need to make sure the company you choose has a number of different options for your specific requirements. Not all businesses are the same size and not all will need the same level of security either. Some companies only offer basic cover which may be suitable for startups or small businesses but if your company is larger, then you should seek out someone who can match what you require with an appropriate cover option without making things too expensive.

Are they experienced in working around my business?

Businesses that have been running for a significant amount of time will often have their own niche within that industry. For instance, perhaps you work as a solicitor and deal with lots of people on a regular basis meaning it’s important to feel safe and secure at all times. Do they truly understand your needs?

Things To Consider When Planning Your Journey

whether you are going on a family holiday, enjoy a long drive, or are a driver for work, there are lots of things you will need to consider when planning your journey. Let us look deeper into what you need to consider below.

Your Route
One of the easiest things to know that you need to consider when planning a journey is your route. You want to ensure you are going on a route that will take the least amount of time as well as be the shortest. But when planning your route you will also need to consider the other aspects of this list.

Toilet Stops
An important aspect to consider when planning your journey is toilet stops, especially if you have children in toe. It is unlikely that you will get from point A to point B without needing at least one toilet stop. So you should always ensure there are places with toilets on your route. If travelling on a motorway you will be okay as there are multiple service stations for you to stop in.

Lunch Break / Snacks
You also want to ensure that there will be somewhere for you to have a food break during your journey. You do not want to eat whilst driving as this is dangerous, can cause accidents and endure travel sickness. Stopping for a food break is vital to keep energy levels up especially for the driver.

Potential Delays
Finally, you will want to take into consideration during planning what potential delays there could be on your journey and how they will affect the people on board. The most common being car accidents causing traffic, rush hour traffic or waiting at a train crossing. These can not be avoided but should be taken into consideration.

Using a sat nav for long journeys will be your best friend as they will be able to constantly find you alternative routes to get you to point B in the best time.