Clearview National January 2015 - Issue 158 | Page 26

INDUSTRYNEWS

Don’t get stuck this winter
From builders to tanker drivers, none of us is immune
when snowy and icy conditions hit our roads.
»»During January to
February 2014 the UK
experienced around six major
storms, separated by intervals
of two to three days. The
sequence of storms followed an
earlier stormy period from mid
December 2013 and overall the
whole period saw at least 12

major winter storms, this was
one of the stormiest periods of
weather the UK has experienced
for at least 20 years.
Taking care on the roads
and ensuring vehicle safety is
paramount during these times
and if you are an employer of
regular vehicles users, you have a

26 » JAN 2015 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M

duty of care to ensure their safety
in such conditions.
One option to help overcome
driving during these conditions
is a reusable tyre snow sock
which pulls over the driving
wheels of vehicles that need extra
grip on ice or snow. Created
and developed in Norway,
the Autosock has the relevant
European patents to help the
product be innovative.
It doesn’t usually take much
snow before most vehicles,
probably using quiet and fuel
efficient summer tyres, start to
slip. Businesses that need to
travel as part of their trade are
particularly likely to lose business
if it snows, so thinking about how
the business will cope in snowy
weather really is a strategic issue.
This includes getting your key
staff to work and home again as
safely as reasonably possible.
The reusable tyre socks can
be pull over the driving wheels
when the road conditions look
particularly tricky, or after a
vehicle has got stuck. They grip
to snow and ice, thanks to high
tech materials made by DuPont

and maximise the available dry
friction, making a significant
difference to vehicles on winter
tyres, including 4x4s.
The patented design is available
for almost all vehicle tyre sizes;
cars, vans, HGVs, buses, and
fork-lifts and are easy to fit, with
no special training. They are also
light and easy to store in-vehicle;
and are stored in a packet about
the size of a folded shirt.
The innovation product is
already being used by many
organisations that have an
obligation to keep going in snowy
weather such as fire, police and
ambulance services, and utility
companies. They have also been
tested and approved by many of
the largest car manufacturers.
To find out more, visit autosock.
co.uk or call 01539 622406