By Oliver Temple, regional senior director, EMEA & APAC at Lytx

The winter months bring a set of new challenges for commercial drivers. The weather is more unpredictable during this time of year and conditions on the roads can change quickly. A driver may have to deal with fog, rain, snow and ice – or a combination of all of these – in a single journey. Visibility is reduced and braking becomes more difficult so drivers must adapt their driving style to ensure they are leaving more stopping distance and staying alert to the hazardous conditions.

During peak retail cycles, drivers may be facing busier schedules and experience more pressure to hit delivery deadlines as gift-giving reaches a seasonal peak. At the same time, shorter daylight hours can lead to increased fatigue and drowsiness, reducing the alertness of those behind the wheel.

Collectively, these factors increase the risk of incidents occurring on the roads. Keeping drivers safe during the winter season therefore requires a mixture of preparation, training and technology.

Driver wellbeing

Regular communication between fleet managers and drivers is a vital part of an effective fleet safety programme year-round – but it becomes even more important during winter. Navigating unpredictable conditions requires greater concentration from drivers and can quickly drain energy levels, increasing stress and fatigue.

By checking in more frequently with drivers, fleet managers can have open, two-way conversations about safety. They can hear concerns early and understand whether drivers are facing additional physical or mental strain. This helps to reinforce a culture of safety – where drivers feel supported and empowered to speak up about the challenges they’re facing.

It may be that a driver would benefit from some additional training that covers how to maintain control of their vehicle on icy roads or manage skid risks, for example. Understanding how confident and prepared drivers feel to drive during winter is an important step to making safety a top priority.

Safety technology

Technology also plays an increasingly important role in helping fleets to identify risks and prevent incidents before they occur.

Intelligent dashcams, powered by machine vision and artificial intelligence, can identify risky driving behaviours and send visual or audible alerts to drivers. This gives them the opportunity to self-correct in real time, before an error escalates into an incident.

These dashcams can be installed both inside the cab and around the exterior of the vehicle, to provide a complete picture of what is happening while a driver is out on the road. This holistic view is particularly important in challenging weather conditions, such as snow and ice, where risks can develop quickly.

This advanced technology can also spot indicators of driver fatigue, including yawning frequency, eye closure duration, blinking rates and head position. In these situations, the technology will alert the driver to return to full concentration or take a break. Wider teams, such as managers and HR, can also be alerted and a replacement driver can be sent out when an individual is unable to continue.

Video technology also plays a key role in driver coaching and continuous improvement. Fleet managers can have informed conversations with drivers – they can review near-misses together and understand the context around an event. These meaningful conversations, which focus on improvement rather than punishment, can lead to effective behaviour change over time and create safer drivers. In our 2025 Road Safety Report for example, we found that for every 100 coaching sessions undertaken, 73 resulted in the behaviour not being repeated over the next two months.

Vehicle maintenance

The regular inspection and maintenance of fleet vehicles is also a core activity when it comes to reducing the likelihood of winter-related incidents. It’s advisable to increase the frequency of checks on tyre pressure and tread to ensure that surface grip is adequate for icy or wet conditions. Meanwhile, additional inspections of brake lights and indicators help ensure that bulbs are fully functional for the darker conditions. Windscreen washer fluid, brake fluid and oil should all be topped up.

Additionally, ensuring that the vehicle is in the best position to manage the weather conditions help to reduce the chance of a breakdown. The last thing a driver wants to worry about if they are battling through a blizzard is a tyre going flat. These extra preventative maintenance steps can reassure drivers that they are less likely to be stranded in dangerous conditions.

Climate change may be altering the nature of winter weather, but fleets can still prepare for its challenges. In parts of the UK, for example, flooding is now more likely than ice or snow, so driver training can be focused on handling heavy rain and wet or flooded roads. The key to safety is to understand the risks – and to make sure that your drivers are prepared for what’s ahead.