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FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS £250+ WITHIN MAINLAND UK
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS £250+ WITHIN MAINLAND UK
Close up image of yellow Zafety products attached to a lorry wheel. This is to the left of the frame, with the right having slightly out of focus white lorry cabs, allowing you to know it's for trucks but keeping the focus on the wheel devices.

Fleet Safety

Protect your team on the road

Every day, thousands of professional drivers set off to do a vital job - keeping businesses moving. Whether they're driving an HGV, a van, a coach, or towing a trailer, the risks must be managed. Driving for work is the third leading cause of work-related fatalities - so safety isn't something to be messed with.

What are the biggest risks to fleet drivers?

It's more than just traffic jams and road works. Here are some of the most common dangers our fleet drivers face:
  • Poor weather and road conditions - Rain, snow, fog, high winds, and icy roads all make driving more dangerous, especially for large or heavily loaded vehicles.
     
  • Driver fatigue - Long hours and tight deadlines increase the risk of tiredness. Even with regulated driving hours, many drivers report struggling with fatigue.
     
  • Distractions - Whether it’s phones, sat-navs, or in-cab tech, anything that draws attention away from the road puts drivers at greater risk. Drivers know to avoid phone use, fiddling with in-screen tech while driving and to stay focused, but employers can help by minimising in-cab distractions, providing training and choosing safety-first tech such as dashcams.
     
  • Mechanical issues - Tyre blowouts, brake failure, wheel detachment and other vehicle faults can have devastating consequences if not picked up early.
     
  • Blind spots and poor visibility - Especially in urban areas, visibility plays a critical role in preventing incidents involving cyclists or pedestrians.
     
  • Isolation and mental health - Long hours alone on the road can affect driver wellbeing. It’s a factor that deserves more attention in transport safety conversations.

Creating a Safer Fleet Environment

Driver safety is about creating a consistent mix of the right policies, tools and habits across your fleet. Here's where to start:

1. Prioritise daily checks

It might sound simple, but daily vehicle walkarounds can catch faults before they become failures. Do your drivers know what to look for? Are the checks actually being done? Digital tools can prompt and log checks, so there's no missing paperwork and the routine is followed. We recommend utilising wheel nut indicators here 

2. Stay on top of maintenance

A well-maintained vehicle is a safer vehicle. Brakes, lights, tyres, mirrors, and load restraints should all be regularly serviced. Wheel nut torque should be checked based on how much use the vehicles get, but a weekly torque check is generally considered good practice, but always check manufacture guidelines and fleet policy. We also advise expiry dates of any fire extinguishers and first aid kits are noted.

3. Support driver wellbeing

Tired drivers are dangerous drivers. Tachograph data should be taken seriously, used to plan realistic schedules. Check in with your team - how are they feeling, are they rested, healthy, and heard? Listen to their needs and their feedback on routes and schedules. 56% of UK firms using fleet‑management systems saw safety improvements.

4. Plan for visibility and compliance

Urban fleets face increasing visibility requirements - as of October 2024 the Progressive Safe System (PSS) came to be, meaning vehicles over 12 tonnes operating in Greater London will need at least a 3-star DVS rating, or face fines for non-compliance. 
Reflective/conspicuity tape should also be applied to truck edges, as per ECE104 regulations. 
Cameras and mirrors should be cleaned regularly - the easiest way to ensure visibility. 

5. Educate and train regularly

Don't assume your team knows everything. Refresher training can be really useful - reminding drivers of defensive driving, load security, fire safety, and first aid can make a huge difference.

Wheel safety: often overlooked

We’ve seen firsthand the risks of wheel loss on commercial vehicles. One loose wheel nut can cause serious damage, and it’s more common than you might think, and 3-7 people die from the result of an HGV wheel coming off each year.

Visual checks are a good start, but combining them with proven products like wheel nut locks and wheel nut indicators, gives an extra layer of protection. 

Wheel Nut Locks

Wheel nut locks physically clamp across two adjacent wheel nuts to prevent the rotation and resist the forces that can lead to the wheel nuts loosening. While indicators only show when the wheel nuts are loose, wheel nut locks do just that - physically lock them in place. 

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Wheel Nut Indicators

Wheel nut indicators are a visual tool to highlight movement of a wheel nut. Should a wheel nut loosen and move, the indicator will show this movement. Typically placed facing each other, so that when there is movement it's easy to spot.

These indicators have become a key part of many driver walkaround checks, as it's easy to see. 

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Fire safety on the road

Engine fires, electrical faults, and brake overheating are all possible in commercial vehicles. This gets more likely when covering long distances or carrying heavy loads. 

HGVs and Lorries (not carrying dangerous goods)

While not legally required, it's strongly recommended that all HGVs carry at least one dry powder fire extinguisher. These are suitable for Class A (solids), Class B (flammable liquids), and Class C (flammable gases) fires - making them ideal for roadside use.

  • Recommended minimum: 1 x 2kg dry powder extinguisher
2kg Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher

2kg Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher

£16.70
£16.70
Quantity

Vehicles Carrying Dangerous Goods (ADR Regulations)

If a vehicle is transporting hazardous materials, it must comply with ADR (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) regulations:

  • Under 3.5 tonnes: Minimum 2 extinguishers, total weight 4kg (one must be at least 2kg)
  • 3.5 - 7.5 tonnes: Minimum 2 extinguishers, total weight 8kg (one must be at least 6kg)
  • Over 7.5 tonnes: Minimum 2 extinguishers, total weight 12kg (one must be at least 6kg)

This typically means: 2kg extinguisher in the cab, 6kg extinguisher stored elsewhere on the vehicle
P50 6KG ABC Powder Extinguisher

P50 6KG ABC Powder Extinguisher

£202.13
£202.13
Quantity

Public Transport (Buses and Minibuses)

Vehicles used for public transport - such as buses, minibuses, and coaches - are typically required to carry AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) fire extinguishers. These are especially effective on:

  • Class A fires - solids like fabric and upholstery
  • Class B fires - flammable liquids like fuel

The most common and recommended size for these vehicles is a 2-litre AFFF extinguisher, as it offers a balance between fire-fighting capacity and ease of storage inside the cab or passenger area.
A red 2-litre Envirofoam fluorine-free foam extinguisher with a corrosion-resistant finish, mounted on a metal bracket with an operating lever on top, labeled for Class A and B fires.

2 Litre Envirofoam Fluorine Free Foam Extinguisher

£53.00
£53.00
Quantity

First aid for drivers

From minor cuts and burns to something more serious, a proper first aid kit is essential for any vehicle. Make sure it's stocked, in date, and accessible. Training on how and when to use it also helps drivers act confidently in an emergency.

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Don’t let safety fall through the cracks

Compliance isn’t just ticking boxes - it’s about doing the right thing, every day. A well-run fleet protects its drivers, its reputation, and the people it shares the road with.

From wheel safety solutions to fire extinguishers and first aid kits, we’ve got the gear you need to keep your team covered.