A new initiative has been launched to raise awareness of the correct procedures to take if a vehicle comes into contact with overhead or fallen power lines.

Working in partnership with the Farm Safety Foundation, NFU Mutual want to relay a simple two point plan to drivers to help reduce serious and fatal accidents. Farmers are being told to stay in the vehicle and dial 105 from a mobile phone for the local electricity network provider to isolate the power supply.

Only when the electricity is cut-off is it safe for the driver and passengers to leave the vehicle. Those who approach a vehicle to assist should only do so once the power is isolated.

As part of the initiative, NFU Mutual customers in the south west are invited to collect a free emergency contact card from their local office to keep in their cabs. The cards detail the emergency services contact numbers, a reminder of the electrical emergency contact number which is 105 and the drivers own next-of-kin details.