When the winter hits in just a few months, the gritter lorries will once again be making their way across the UK, battling to make roads a safer place for determined motorists and to keep the country moving. A good indicator that the it’s about to get icy would be spotting these lorries doing their rounds. In Scotland, you can even track gritting lorries on a map to see if your area has been cleared yet. They even have amusingly named lorries, such as Gritty Gritty Bang Bang, Luke Snowalker and Gritty Gonzales – but why are gritting lorries so important, and who drives them anyway?
If you have a HGV license, you are able to drive a heavy goods vehicle in the UK – however it takes more than just this to be a successful HGV driver. As drivers progress through their career, they soon learn that there a particular set of personal skills which help to make their working day more efficient and smoother. Developing these skills early can really help to improve your career prospects.
- Wearing for lighter clothes such as T-Shirts and shorts help to stay cool throughout the summer – just make sure management agree first!
- Lucky enough to have air conditioning in your cab? Don’t forget to make the most of it!
- Wearing a hat can help to keep the sun away from your head, as well as allowing you to concentrate better on the road by keeping the sunlight out of your eyes.
- Having a mini fridge can be especially helpful, allowing yo to keep cold water in your vehicle for those long journeys
- Sunglasses can help to keep you cool by blocking those rays, as well as helping you to keep your vision.
- Sun lotion is a must! You don’t want to get burned behind the wheel!
Generally, anyone who passes a driving test is aware of the road laws. It is common knowledge that you must inform the DVLA if you develop any medical conditions which might affect your ability to drive properly. For instance, a minimum field of vision is required to be able to drive. New mothers who have had a c-section are instructed to avoid driving for at least six weeks. However, there are a number of other medical conditions which can seriously hinder your ability to drive. These include illnesses which have side effects such as hearing loss, sleep deprivation and a few more. Learn more about these surprising medical conditions which could get you a £1000 fine if you fail to inform the DVLA about them. In case you get involved in an accident as a result of any of these illnesses, you may also be prosecuted by the law.