Are you fully prepared for winter driving? Read our top 5 tips to help drivers be prepared for winter driving come rain, hail, ice, or snow. 

 

Top 5 Tips to be fully prepared for driving in winter

 

• Check Your Tyres – The most important part of your vehicle. You might not have considered it before, however, your tyres are actually in control of your steering, braking, acceleration, and absorbing all the bumps and potholes that the UK roads may throw at you. They are the only part of your vehicle that in is direct contact with the road. That is why it’s imperative you check in regularly on the health of your tyres. Be sure to check the tyre pressure regularly. As the temperature drops so does the pressure in your tyres, ensure you follow the tyre pressure recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. Check the tread depth, it is recommended that in winter, tread depth should be checked to ensure it is well above the legal minimum of 1.6mm across the central 3/4 of the tyre, around its entire circumference. Don’t forget to check the condition of your spare tyre in case you need to use it. You may also want to consider winter tyres which perform better in wet conditions and offer improved grip and performance at freezing temperatures.

 

• Under The Bonnet – No one wants to wake up to a flat battery or be stranded because your car won’t start due to a flat battery. During colder weather conditions your battery loses voltage making it work harder for the battery to start the vehicle. This can result in unexpected battery failure during the winter. It’s been reported that your car is 51% more likely to have battery problems in the winter. Many of the top autocentres here in the UK offer a free battery health check.  For peace of mind, especially if your battery is over 5yrs old, take it along for a free health check. It is also worth checking that terminals are free from corrosion and that the cables are securely connected. While you’re under the bonnet be sure to check the windscreen fluid levels. Never use just water as this can freeze and expand in the cold weather causing damage to the system. Most screen washes come ready-mixed and formulated to withstand severe cold weather conditions while keeping your windscreen clean and clear of obstructions. Running out of screen wash when driving behind cars in muddy snow conditions isn’t fun. It’s advisable to keep a spare windscreen fluid bottle in the boot of your car.

 

• Visibility Is Key - When the white stuff starts to fall not everyone spends enough time clearing the snow/ice from their vehicle. Remember, you are better to spend an extra 10 minutes making your vehicle safe to drive, rather than rushing to set off and never actually getting to your destination. Failing to effectively clear snow/ice from your vehicle can result in poor visibility which is a safety risk to yourself and other road users. In addition to clearing snow/ice from your windscreen and rear-view window, ensure you remove all snow/ice from wing mirrors, and both passenger/driver side windows, to ensure a clear view at junctions and roundabouts. Make sure your headlights, sidelights, rear brake lights, and number plates are all clean and clear from snow/ice or dirt. Clear the snow from your rear boot/bonnet and roof to avoid an unexpected avalanche when braking or cornering as the snow begins to melt. This is not only hazardous to you as a driver but also to cars following you on the road, who may swerve suddenly in snowy or icy conditions to avoid falling snow from your vehicle. If your vehicle has advanced safety systems, such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking, ensure all cameras, radar sensors are wiped clean to ensure they can operate effectively. Be sure to check them regularly especially after driving in bad conditions.

 

• Don’t Risk Running on Empty – Are you a regular player of fuel station roulette? Do you “run on fumes”? Chancing one more trip before you visit the petrol station? Living life on the edge, asking yourself, “have I got 50 miles or 5 miles left?” when the warning light comes on. If that’s you then we suggest that you consider adapting your refueling habits over the winter. Estimates suggest around 900,000 people a year run out of fuel. There is never a good time to run out of fuel, however, with the dark nights upon us, pending wintery weather conditions ahead, it’s not worth the risk. Fill up your tank to ensure you can get where you need to be and back safely. Also, if you were to break down for any reason, ensuring you have sufficient fuel levels to keep the car running ensures you have continuous heat while waiting for the cavalry to arrive. Remember, as we enter the Christmas period there will be increased traffic on roads as people go on shopping trips, visiting family and friends, resulting in more traffic on the roads, combined with snowy/icy driving conditions traffic jams are unavoidable, so don’t get caught out. This is one sensible, easy step to ensure you don’t add to the stress of the festive season by breaking down at the roadside due to lack of fuel.

 

• Prepare For The Worst, Hope For The Best – No one wants to think about what would happen if they were stranded at the roadside. However, while you might not want to think about it, it’s important that you’re prepared for it if it did happen. Some modern vehicles may come with a breakdown kit included, consisting of a traffic warning triangle, high visibility jacket, and a first aid kit. If your vehicle hasn’t got the basics it’s certainly worth the investment in purchasing these items. However, below are some items that could come in very handy if you were left stranded in a broken-down car or stuck in snowy conditions this winter.

 

1. Phone charging cable and portable power bank to charge your mobile devices. A mobile phone is an essential item in an emergency situation. It can be used to call for breakdown assistance, or contact family/friends, check your exact location using google maps or what3words. They can also be used to entertain children or yourself while waiting for help to arrive.
2. A warm coat, walking boots/wellies, gloves, hat, spare blanket, and a torch will ensure you are prepared should you need to abandon your vehicle and walk for help.
3. A tow rope can be used by another vehicle to help you if your vehicle is stuck in snow or mud. If you don’t have any breakdown recovery then it would be advisable to invest in a tow rope so a family member, friend, or kind stranger can assist you if you were stuck in the snow. Check where your vehicle tow points are located on both front and rear bumper and locate where the towing eye is stored in your vehicle.
4. Purchase a small snow shovel or scoop so that you can attempt to remove any snow from around your wheels if you find yourself stuck, this could avoid the need to wait for an emergency breakdown call-out and get you on your way quickly.
5. Pack some snacks in the vehicle, crisps, chocolate, biscuits, water/pop, etc to ensure you and your passengers are kept comfortable while waiting for help to arrive. Typical response times from breakdown providers are extended during peak times, especially in bad weather situations. You may have to sit tight for several hours waiting for help to arrive, so stock up with some food and drink to help make the wait bearable.