Essex fire and rescue urge drivers to get locator app ahead of Storm Darragh
85% of all emergency services in the UK use the app 'what3words'
Essex is bracing for yet another storm this weekend – with a Met Office yellow weather warning predicting 80mph winds and torrential rain set to hit Britain over the coming days.
With the majority of the UK just recovering from the flooding – drivers are being urged to take simple steps to ensure safe travel.
Daisy Pearson, road and water safety lead at Essex fire and rescue, tells Greatest Hits Radio:
"70% of people in the UK fail to check the headlights or break lights before starting their journey. And obviously this time of year especially it's so important."
She tells us ahead of the flood, "ensure to check your tread depth and your tyre pressure" and "washer fluid".
She says Essex fire and rescue are calling on people to download the what3words free app:
"It divides the whole globe into 3x3 metre squares. And each of those squares have a unique three words attached to it."
"It pinpoints your exact location - nearly 40% wouldn't feel comfortable or confident describing their location to emergency services if they were stranded in a rural location. That's why it's so important."
The storm warning comes as many will be on the road this weekend, travelling to visit friends and family this year for Christmas parties.
Nearly half (47%) of UK adults don’t feel comfortable driving in the dark, yet 68% fail to check their headlights and brake lights before getting behind the wheel – which is particularly dangerous when visibility is low, is weather conditions such as a storm.
In fact, 50% of UK drivers check their vehicle’s essential safety features less than once a month, and nearly 1 in 10 (7%) admit they never check their vehicle’s safety features at all.