Winter Driving Tips
Hands up who was caught out by the weather this month. I am not sure if it is me procrastinating i.e. putting some of the knowledge I have down in writing because writing anything is not my strong point, or as I am getting older the years seems to go quicker, or I am just not prepared, which with my military background is not like me at all.
I joined the Army at 16 and at 17 got my HGV class 2 and one thing they teach you is to look after your equipment. From what I remember we did a week or two training on basic vehicle maintenance tyres battery charging off roading driving in different conditions e.t.c. And now over 20 years in the motor industry.
Winter Car Checks:
Check that your lights are clean, in working order and properly aligned.
Check windscreen wiper blades for wear and replace if damaged.
Top up your screen wash with one that contains a winter anti-freeze.
Check tyres tread depth. The current legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. The greater your tread depth the safer you will be driving in poor conditions.
Check your tyre pressure regularly as this will not only ensure your safety it will save you money as a car is more economical on fuel if tyres are at the correct level of pressure.
Check you have a spare tyre and it is in good condition.
Going on a long Journey Consider taking some of these:
A blanket and waterproof/warm jacket.
De icer / Ice scraper.
Jump leads.
Torch and spare batteries.
Tow rope.
A sack or rug to put under the tyres if you get stuck in snow.
First aid kit.
Bring a shovel
Medication you regularly take in case you are stuck in your car for any length of time.
Don't forget your mobile and make sure it is fully charged whenever you travel!
Snack food.
Bottle of water/ thermos flask hot drink or cold drink to stop it freezing.
Before you leave on your journey:
Check the weather forecast before you set off. Decide whether it is essential to travel.
Allow extra time for your journey, better to arrive early than to worry about being late.
Don't use warm water to de-ice your windscreen - use a proper scraper or de-icer. Hot water from the kettle could lead to a cracked windscreen, which could be costly.
Before you set off make sure you have good visibility and that you have cleared all windows of ice and mist and cleaned lights. Driving with poor visibility is dangerous and illegal.
Keep the number plates clean too, as you can be fined if they are dirty and illegible.
Remember not to use the car's windscreen wash until your engine and heating is thoroughly warm - a cold windscreen can freeze the water, obscuring your view.
During your journey:
Make sure you travel with plenty of fuel, avoid driving around on nearly empty you don't know when you may be delayed.
Try to avoid the quiet roads and stick to main roads as they are more likely to have been gritted.
Always use your headlights in rain or snow and to increase your visibility especially when the sun is low in the sky.
If visibility is below 100 meters you may legally use front or rear fog lights, but remember to turn them off if the weather conditions improve.
Never follow the fog lights of the car in front and reduce your speed - remember it is not necessary to drive at the maximum speed limit in poor conditions - important to drive safely.
Remember in bad weather conditions you need to allow more time for braking and accelerating. Make sure you leave more of a gap between you and the driver in front and be aware that stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice and snow.
Try to maintain a constant speed and apply brakes gently when driving in icy or snowy conditions
Driving on winter roads
Pull away in second gear, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.
If you have to use your brakes, apply them gently.
Driving uphill – leave plenty of room between other cars or wait until it’s clear so you don’t have to stop part way up. Keep a constant speed and try to avoid having to change gear on the hill.
Driving downhill – slow down before the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid braking. Leave as much room as you can after the car in front.
If you get stuck in snow or ice
If you get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels.
Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip.
If you breakdown in bad weather:
Stay with your vehicle, unless it is in a dangerous place. It will provide shelter until emergency or breakdown services get to you.
If you have a warning triangle, place it 100 metres or so behind your car to warn other drivers - further away if you breakdown on a motorway or in heavy ice and snow.
Only call the emergency services if you have had an accident, broken down in a dangerous place or if you or a passenger needs medical attention.
Call a breakdown service they can give you advice on whether to call the emergency services.
If you need to run your engine for heat, make sure that the area around your exhaust pipe is clear of snow.
Remember you will be draining your battery if you keep the engine running.
Tyres
Consider Winter tyres or all-weather tyres. Winter and all-weather tires work by using different rubber compounds and tread patterns to provide better grip and traction in various weather conditions: if you have never used these you will be surprised by the difference they make.
- At least make sure you have a good amount of tread.
- Don't let air out of your tyres to get more grip – it doesn't work, and it’s unsafe.
- Only use snow chains if there’s enough snow to prevent damage to the road.
Sources of Winter Driving Advice from AA and SDA.
Please bear this winter driving advice in mind when travelling. Better to be late than not to arrive at all - put your safety first.
Be the tortoise not the hare.