Winter Driving Tips and Advice
Now that winter is fully upon us it is a good idea to start thinking about driving in the winter and what you need to do to keep yourself safe on the roads.
Preparation
Before even getting out on the road you need to make sure that your car is up to the job.
Anti-freeze
The cars cooling system is full of water and no prizes for guessing what happens when it gets really cold? This is why you need to make sure your coolant has anti-freeze mixed in. The name is pretty self explanatory and it will prevent possible damage with your car over-heating.
Screenwash
It may sound simple but having a decent screen wash makes a huge difference with all the crud and salt that gets sprayed up from the road over the winter months. Like the coolant make sure you use a screen wash with anti-freeze otherwise those jets will just lie dormant, and you won’t be able to see! At the same time check the condition of your wipers, and make sure they are working properly without any smears or streaks.
Battery
At this time of year car batteries take quite a beating, they don’t like the cold and added to that they have a lot more demand on them than the summer. Lights, heating, heated screens are all used more and put increased demand on the battery. Check that your battery is in good health replacing or charging if necessary and take some jump leads in the car just in case.
Lights
With the lights being used more in dark conditions it’s likely that they may fail. Be sure to check your lights all around to make sure they are all working correctly. Driving without fully working lights in harsh winter conditions can be lethal.
Tyres
Tyres are the most important part of the car when it comes to grip. Make sure you have a decent amount of tread on the tyres as in wet weather this is essential to prevent aquaplaning. For snow and ice it may also be worth considering purchasing winter tyres for your car as they are made out of softer compounds and designed to grip better in cold conditions. Also check the pressure of the tyres to ensure they are not over or under inflated.
In the boot
Stock up the boot with a few things so that if you do get stuck you can be safer. Make sure you have a warm jacket, a high vis vest, some jump-leads, chocolate bars (or similar) a decent torch and if driving in snow a small shovel.
On the road
Before setting off in cold conditions make sure that all of the windows and mirrors are fully cleared or any snow, ice or frost. Wait until all the windows are fully cleared of any fogging as setting off without being able to see correctly is pretty dumb given that the road conditions will be poor.
As you are driving be more cautious with your inputs so avoid hard braking, acceleration and sharp steering inputs.
Even when a road looks clear in freezing conditions black ice can form which is especially slippery and can cause you to lose control. By driving with more caution and at more appropriate speeds you will reduce your chances of skidding and damaging you or your car.
Remember, in winter conditions with snow and ice braking distances will be greatly increased. Make sure to keep a good distance from the car in front and take extra care when approaching junctions or roundabouts. Engine braking with the gears to slow down can help to make a smoother controlled reduction in speed.
Much as all the news channels will be berating us with “If the journey is not really necessary then don’t bother going out” In really poor winter conditions sometimes the safest thing to do is actually to just stay at home. Remind yourself that things could always be worse by watching the guests on Jeremy Kyle.
