New driver - can employer force me to use my car if it’s snowing

SLITHER99

neilmcl wrote: »

So have you "had an advanced driver's license for 5 years"?

Also, what was sensible in your earlier tale about driving with just 2 "snow tyres" (I'm assuming they were actually winter tyres btw). Surely someone with so much experience would realise that mixing radically different compounds on your car was a recipe for disaster.

My car was front wheel drive.

Now, I could just say that my car was fitted out and tuned to perfection by antarctic explorers who do this for a living and that the tyres on my car were hand-crafted by the gods of tyre making themselves and that they had more grip than a... er, very grippy thing! But that would be bullpoop.

The fact I went to my local tyre fitters with two alloys I scored of ebay, asked them to fit snow/winter tyres whatever you call them so I can use them in the snow may or may not appease your mighty disposition. My assumption is that it won't so what is the use of my replying? All I can see myself doing is wearing out my keyboard... oh dammit... now look what I've done...

SLITHER99

Relentless01 wrote: »

Great advice, really helpful! I can not believe the stupidity of some people on this site. Driving in harsh weather conditions can be a daunting task and inexperianced drivers are right to question their ability rather than hurt themselves or others.

Have you not properly read the other posts!? We are clearly in the midsts of ex-rally cross drivers who are now policemen who have taken every test known to man and could easily do a 180 and parallel park like those stunt guys while we're still there in our coat hat and scarves arguing whether or not we have removed enough snow from the roofs of our cars... I mean, I think we should all just stop driving right now and let these other fine people have the roads!

I know that I would certainly feel better.

SteveJW

Carpet shop near me frequently has a pile of samples (about two foot square in old money) with a sign "Free" I guess their for obsolete ranges.
Don't take up much room in the boot

SLITHER99

SteveJW wrote: »

Carpet shop near me frequently has a pile of samples (about two foot square in old money) with a sign "Free" I guess their for obsolete ranges.
Don't take up much room in the boot

Odd, I've never seen this. And believe me, for reasons other than snowy conditions, I've had need for spare carpet for various reasons. Yet the one place I did ask laughed and directed their attention to paying customers. Granted this was several years ago and I probably asked the wrong person, or gave the wrong handshake, or whatever multitude of other things I got wrong...

Ah well, it is what it is, eh?

Throbbe

SLITHER99 wrote: »

Have you not properly read the other posts!? We are clearly in the midsts of ex-rally cross drivers who are now policemen who have taken every test known to man and could easily do a 180 and parallel park like those stunt guys while we're still there in our coat hat and scarves arguing whether or not we have removed enough snow from the roofs of our cars... I mean, I think we should all just stop driving right now and let these other fine people have the roads!

I know that I would certainly feel better.

and it's these 'expert' drivers that end up blocking the roads so the gritters can't get through, making things worse for everyone else.

Part of being a good driver is understanding your limits. If you didn't feel you were able to drive, you were right not to do so and find another way into work. That said, some lessons or even a bit of practice at a quiet time in an out of the way car park wouldn't be a bad idea in case you ever get caught out in snow.

To answer the original point, both you and your employer have a legal responsibility to protect your safety. I'm sure someone else can quote chapter and verse, but I'd guess the Management of H&S At Work Regulations. This may not cover your journey to work, but I'd be suprised if it didn't cover driving while at work. I'm sure your employer will have a written record of the risk assessment for driving at work. If you wanted to be awkward you could ask to see it, or at least any sections related to snow and/or newly qualified drivers.

Personally I probably wouldn't rock the boat to that extent, but I'd maybe ask if there is any guidance as to when they consider it unsafe to drive, if only so you know next time.

SLITHER99

Decided to go for a drive in the snow. I showed all these people a lesson by doing 90 all the way round! I even got it on one wheel and made it jump up and down with a jaunty tune blaring out of my stereo.

That means I'm a better driver than anyone ever. Even James Bond!

Sgt_Pepper_2

SLITHER99 wrote: »

Decided to go for a drive in the snow. I showed all these people a lesson by doing 90 all the way round! I even got it on one wheel and made it jump up and down with a jaunty tune blaring out of my stereo.

That means I'm a better driver than anyone ever. Even James Bond!

You're trolling now.

SLITHER99

You can't prove that! I have snow tyres; I can do anything!

However, as I was intrigued, quite right, having an IAM certificate doesn't give you extra codes on your license. That said, I haven't seen my license in a while. But regardless, I stand corrected.

See, that's why I'm not British; I'll happily admit I was wrong when I am! But that's not really the point in the thread, now, is it?

Trolling? Moi? Actually I'm procrastinating going out to the post office in the cold. Ach, better get it done with. Maybe I'll pick up a lost drivers license form while I'm there. I bet the woman behind the counter will be really impressed when I show her my monster truck with 188" tyres with snow chains

... which can also dance...

... to livin la vida loca...

... and several cars in a heap that I ran over because they can't handle the snow...

I'll also have to ask for the "special" lost advanced drivers license form. Just so she knows who she's dealing with.

But no really, I need to get going to make it for 12:00.

Splott

caz_cardiff87 wrote: »

i am for my mot, but pay day is not till monday!

Should have got them before now TBH. Come November if they've got 3mm or less left its time to change them because you can guarantee if you don't then you'll need to right when you've got the least money and the weather is worst - after Xmas. No vehicle maintenance should be left "until the MOT". That isn't how you run a vehicle. You service it as required, change tyres and blown bulbs as required. Your car will be safer, last longer and break down less. Once you start getting into the mentality that things only need to be done for the MOT, that's when you can potentially spend 11 months of the year driving an illegal deathtrap.

Back to the work situation:

Firstly you need business use on your insurance or you need to physically see proof you are covered by your employers insurance to use your car on their business otherwise you're uninsured for these journeys.

Also ultimately an employer has a duty of care to you. Sending out a novice driver with almost bald tyres with no experience of snow in a weather warning on a business journey is not exercising that duty of care.

However when it comes to getting to work, it is up to you to ensure you get there.

notanewuser

caz_cardiff87 wrote: »

Hi all,





Anyway, all i got back was ‘well i did it last year, just go slow, you’ll be fine’ etc...this was met with a lengthy discussion on facebook with 3 other colleagues who were all gun-ho about it all absolutely no understanding that
a) despite reading all the tips tricks etc of how to drive in those conditions, ultimately i’ve had 0 practice at it and in my mind, morning traffic and bad roads probably isn’t the best time to ‘have a go’.
b) if i wreck my car i can’t afford a new one (high insurance, recently graduated = living in overdraft and very little chance of getting finance let alone a payment scheme i can afford! If that car goes, i won’t be getting another one for a long time and they’ll have one less member of staff who can cover that site. c) i really don’t think it’s worth the risk, i’m not a nurse / doctor so if police are saying don’t drive, then fair play i say!

c) my tyres are currently at 2mm tread, it’s old, i don’t trust it entirely and seeing newer cars struggling really put me off.

along with some really useless advice e.g. keep a spade in the car and use some old carpet to stick under your wheels if you get stuck.... i have no spade (why would i when i don’t have a garden!?.... and my flat has wooden flooring throughout... so no carpet!)

The Facebook thing - not clever.

The tyre thing - not clever. You know it's winter, we usually have snow in January or February and you leave tyres with 2mm tread on your car. It's not about the MOT, it's about being a responsible driver!

As for not having practiced snow driving, go to a local car park and practice it now, away from other cars and walls/bollards etc. when else will you get chance?

You can buy a folding snow shovel for about a fiver to keep in the car. No need for a garden or anything. And it may just stop you from ending up stuck somewhere or abandoned in a dangerous situation at some time. And the carpet advice is sensible too. Even a set of cheap car mats will do it. But of course, you know better.

You sound extremely immature to me.