Over the winter months driving conditions can become very hazardous, so it's essential to make sure your vehicle is ready to cope with the challenging conditions.
Over the winter months driving conditions can become very hazardous, so it's essential to make sure your vehicle is ready to cope with the challenging condit... more
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Created 11/13/12
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1
Look after your tyres
Snow and ice on the roads, even the water left from heavy rain can make road surfaces lethal. Making sure your tyre pressure is at the tight level will help to reduce the risk of skidding. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm but for winter driving it’s advisable to have a tread depth of at least 3mm.
2
Lighting the way
Winter brings fewer daylight hours and driving in the dark can be extremely hazardous. It’s crucial that all of your lights are working correctly and immediately replace any broken bulbs. You should also make sure you know where your front and read fog lights are.
3
See clearly
Winter weather conditions can make visibility difficult, so make sure you have plenty of screen wash and that your wiper blades are in good condition. Especially over night, frost will form on the windscreen and mirrors so ensure these are clear before you set off, and give your engine a chance to warm up.
4
Fill the tank
Make sure you have enough fuel in the tank, the last thing you want is to be stranded somewhere at the side of the road. If the conditions are poor it could be several hours before you get any assistance.
5
Survival kit
It’s a good idea to have some emergency supplies in the car just in case you break down. Remember to include things like a torch, food and water, warm clothes and blankets, a first aid kit, ice scraper, and save the battery on your mobile for emergencies.
6
Drive Safely
Leave extra time for your journey, drive with more space between you and the car in front than you would normally (road conditions will increase stopping distances) and allow more time for braking and accelerating. On snow and ice high gears reduce the need for sudden acceleration and braking, and if possible try to stick to main roads that have been gritted.
7
Get a Service
Getting your car looked over by a professional mechanic before the severe wetter sets in will at the very least give you peace of mind. The cold weather will put extra strain on all of the car’s functions, so getting problems fixed now will reduce the risk of breaking down later. Also make sure your car insurance is up to date, especially when road conditions greatly increase the risk of accidents.
8
Antifreeze
It only costs a few pounds, but antifreeze can save you hundreds of pounds in damage to your engine when it overheats due to frozen coolant not circulating to the vital components.
9
Battery and electrics
The cold will put additional strain on your electrics, and regularly checking the battery and keeping the contacts clean will reduce the risk of your car not starting in the morning.
10
Paint
The paint isn’t just to make the car look pretty, it protects it from the elements. A regular coat of wax can help protect it against weather extremes. You fix scratches as quickly as possible because if left for too long the damage can go deeper and affect the metalwork, which will be much more expensive to fix.
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