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SAFE WINTER DRIVING - DRIVING IN SNOW, FOG AND ICE

Winter weather can make driving a dangerous affair. When the weather turns bad and snow, ice or fog causes havoc on our roads the often quoted advice is simple - stay at home.

This maybe wise but in reality it is not always practical. With a little common sense however, the dangers of driving during winter months can be kept to a minimum.

Firstly as autumn draws to a close and the winter weather approaches give your car a little care and attention.

driving in snow

Make sure your tyres have the correct tread depth. 1.6mm is the legal minimum but to cope with snow and ice it is advisable to have 6mm.

Check each car light to make sure all are operating correctly.

Make sure your car battery is fully charged and in good repair. Cold, wintry mornings can kill any battery that is past it best.

Fill up your windscreen washer reservoir with a good quality non freezing concentrate. A 50:50 water to concentrate mix is recommended.

Make sure your wipers are in good condition. They will need to be in good repair if they are going to keep your windows clear.

If your car is due or nearing a service then take it in and get it checked out. If your car has any minor faults or is running out of essential fluids the winter weather will soon exaggerate them.

Buy a screen wiper and a can of de-icier and keep them in your car. It also a good idea to keep a first aid kit and a good quality blanket in your car.

As the winter progresses on you should:

Keep as much fuel in your tank as possible. Winter weather can cause substantial delays. Running out of fuel whilst stuck in a long traffic jam can be unpleasant and dangerous.

Keep your mobile phone fully charged. You may need it to call for help.

If you drive into bad weather listen to the local radio station for up-to-date travel news.

driving in winter

Snow fall and ice covered roads can render driving almost impossible. If you get caught in such conditions follow these rules.

When steering turn the steering wheel gently and progressively. Never snatch at the wheel turning it sharply as this can cause you to skid and lose control.

When accelerating do so gently. Accelerate to harshly and your wheels will spin.

Reduce your speed and avoid sudden braking. Whenever possible use your engine brake by changing down into lower gears.

Increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front. With snow and ice on the road stopping distance can increase 10 fold.

Keep your car in a high gear as this will help prevent wheel spin.

The award for most dangerous weather condition goes to fog. When fog is at its worst you should park somewhere safe and wait for it to pass. However if you find yourself driving in fog:

Reduce your speed, turn your headlights to dip and if visibility is less than 100m turn on your fog lights.

If the fog suddenly clears don't relax think you're out of danger. Fog is usually quite patchy going from a light mist to a thick cloud in a matter of metres. You could turn a corner only to find yourself in a dense blanket of fog.

Turn on your front and rear wipers and your demisters.

Keep alert. Other drivers may fail to drive in an appropriate manner neither using their lights or reducing their speed.
driving in fog

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