Archives 2024

Winter’s frost is upon us, and it’s more important than ever to keep safety at the forefront when driving. Each year, countless accidents occur on UK roads due to icy conditions, many of which can be prevented with a few simple precautions.

First and foremost, ensure your vehicle is winter-ready. This means checking your tyre tread and pressure, making sure your windscreen is clear, and your battery is fully charged. Always keep an emergency kit in your car, including an ice scraper, gloves, and a warm blanket. Don’t forget to top up your antifreeze and ensure your windscreen wipers are in good condition.

While driving, reduce your speed and maintain a greater distance from other vehicles. Frost can turn roads into slippery hazards, making sudden stops dangerous. Remember, it’s better to arrive late than not at all. Also, be mindful of black ice, particularly in shaded areas of the road where the sun doesn’t reach. This invisible threat can catch even the most experienced drivers off guard. Stay extra cautious at intersections, bridges, and overpasses as these tend to freeze first.

What are your top tips for staying safe when driving in winter?

For more information about our CPC courses, call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.

CPC driver training was introduced way back in 2009. September this year saw the third 5 year cycle come to a close. CPC has changed the way drivers think about their work and their safety and to this day it remains a hugely important part of ensuring our roads are safer and our drivers are well skilled.

It seemed strange to many when it was first introduced, as if drivers would be forced to spend vital driving time in the classroom being taught things they already know. But it’s clear that repeated training, refreshing previous training, is a highly effective way of aiding learning. The more times we go over a subject, the more effectively we can recall the details.

As such spending just 35 hours going over key learnings for drivers can have a significant impact on ability and efficiency. Drivers have found that their skills are improving and road safety is on the up. Not only is CPC a legal requirement, it’s making a difference every day for our drivers.

For more information about our CPC courses, call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.

Driving a heavy goods vehicle is a huge responsibility – and when things go wrong, it can be frustrating and at times dangerous. A lorry breakdown on the motorway can cause a lot of disruption – so what should you do if your lorry breaks down on the motorway?

Keep calm! It’s easy to get flustered or anxious. Staying calm will mean you can manage the situation more effectively.

Stop safely. If possible try to manoeuvre your vehicle into a safe place to stop. Try to aim for a hard shoulder or emergency stop area if you can. Aim to keep the motorway as clear as possible.

Be safe. If you’re in a live motorway lane stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on. Make sure you turn your hazard lights on to alert people that you’ve broken down.

Contact your breakdown provider. Don’t attempt to make repairs yourself – leave it to the experts! You may also want to consider if the emergency services need to be called if the road is blocked.

Your CPC driver training will also provide an update on best practise. Book your CPC training with us – Call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk to find out more and book your place.

Drivers will often have to work long hours to cover the distances needed in their jobs. Long hours can lead to tired drivers – but how do you know if you’re too tired to drive?

Yawning and dry eyes may be obvious signs that you’re tired and need a rest. But there could be other signs you’re too tired that you may have missed.

Can you concentrate? Do you find yourself daydreaming or drifting off, or unable to focus on the road in front of you? It could be time for a break if so – getting distracted behind the wheel could be very dangerous.

Is your blinking slower or more rapid than usual? Or are you experiencing involuntary head nods? These could be signs that you are starting to fall asleep.

If you’re also finding your reaction times are slower or you’re struggling to stay in your lane it’s time to take a break.

Why does all this matter? Driving heavy goods vehicles is a huge responsibility. Mistakes can lead to seriously endangering lives, which is why drivers must ensure they are fit to drive.

Book your CPC training with us – Call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk to find out more and book your place.

As well as offering tailored CPC training for organisations, we also hold CPC training days – and we’ve got new training dates up and coming!

Based at our training offices in Milton Keynes, we’re offering drivers an opportunity to complete CPC training as part of their five year requirement.

Our next session is on Saturday 23^rd March, starting at 9am. Tea and coffee will be available all day and free parking is available on site!

You can book your training with us for £60 per module, inclusive of VAT and DVSA upload. We have limited spaces available on each course, so don’t delay – we book on a first come, first served basis!

We have a number of dates in the diary for future training too –

20/04/2024 – Daily Vehicle Checks / Safe Loading

25/05/2024 – Accident Procedures + Speed Awareness / Fitness to Drive

22/06/2024 – Dangerous Goods Awareness / Driver Security

20/07/2024 – Drivers Hrs + WTD / Digital Tachograph

17/08/2024 – Health & Safey for Drivers / Fuel Efficient Driving

31/08/2024 – Daily Vehicle Checks / Safe Loading

What are you waiting for? Book your place today! Call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.

As well as offering tailored CPC training for organisations, we also hold CPC training days – and we’ve got new training dates up and coming!

Based at our training offices in Milton Keynes, we’re offering drivers an opportunity to complete CPC training as part of their five year requirement.

Book on one of our upcoming dates and you’ll have completed all of your training before this year’s deadline!

24/02/2024 – Drivers Hrs + WTD / Digital Tachograph

23/03/2024 – Health & Safey for Drivers / Fuel Efficient Driving

20/04/2024 – Daily Vehicle Checks / Safe Loading

25/05/2024 – Accident Procedures + Speed Awareness / Fitness to Drive

22/06/2024 – Dangerous Goods Awareness / Driver Security

20/07/2024 – Drivers Hrs + WTD / Digital Tachograph

17/08/2024 – Health & Safey for Drivers / Fuel Efficient Driving

31/08/2024 – Daily Vehicle Checks / Safe Loading

You can book your training with us for £60 per module, inclusive of VAT and DVSA upload. We have limited spaces available on each course, so don’t delay – we book on a first come, first served basis!

What are you waiting for? Book your place today! Call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.

We’re seeing more and more smart motorways across the UK, updating the way we commute on main routes up and down the country. But many people are still learning about what’s involved with driving on a smart motorway – so what are our top tips for driving safely on a smart motorway?

Never drive in a lane with a red X above it – the lane is temporarily closed for safety reasons, so make sure you change lanes immediately.

Solid white lines indicate a hard shoulder – these lanes should be used as a traditional hard shoulder unless signs indicate otherwise.

Keep the speed limit – The speed limit can vary and will be indicated by signs, so be aware of any changes at all times. If not speed is shown drive at the national speed limit.

The emergency refuge areas are for emergencies only. They must not be used as general parking or stopping areas.

Smart motorways are improving road safety. Highways England statistics show that journey reliability has improved by 22% and personal injury accidents have reduced by half.

For more information about our CPC courses, call Rue on 07720 737482 or email rue@wetraincpc.co.uk. to find out more and book your place.