Winter driving tips

With the summer a distant memory and the winter fast approaching, motoring blog Planes, Trains, Automobiles has put together some driving tips for a safer journey.

Travelling in the winter can be a daunting experience if you’re going by road. With shorter days, longer nights and the weather changing by the minute, even the most experienced driver can be caught out if not prepared. 

Before setting off in your vehicle check the weather, is it too wet or icy?

• Is the vehicle you are travelling in reliable?
• Ensure you check fluid levels, engine oil, anti-freeze and brake fluid.
• Make sure your bulbs are working and any faulty or broken ones replaced.
• Clean your lights and your windscreen.
• Examine your tyres and establish that they are in good condition and correctly inflated.
•  A tyre pressure gauge and air pumps can be bought from only a couple of pounds.
• Carry a map or fully charged Sat Nav.

 Other items you might consider carrying are; first aid kit; ice scraper and de-icer; warm clothing including gloves, flask, shovel, torch and fully charged mobile telephone.

 Now that you have your equipment take time to plan your journey, let someone know where you are going and what time you expect to arrive. Once on your journey, look out for changes in the weather: conditions can change in a matter of seconds. Even if a road has been gritted it can quickly freeze over. This list might seem a little extreme but thousands of drivers in the UK were caught out last year when the weather changed.

 Take regular breaks and if the weather is bad, don't travel, a journey can be put off to another day. Before you set off on any journey remember your driving tips. These points are by no means the only precautions you should take to enjoy your driving experience.

 Vikki Hobbs has run Planes, Trains, Automobiles for just over a year, which gives news, reviews and events on the road, rails and in the air.

Comments

[driving school redditch]

Rainy days tend to be darker and sometimes foggy, reducing your ability to see what’s ahead. You need more time to stop your car on wet pavement. During the first few hours of a rainstorm, accumulated engine oil and grease are lifted off the road, creating a slick surface until the oil is washed away. Slowing down increases your traction, since more of your tire tread will be touching the pavement.

[Florida Permit Test]

Winter is most dangerous season to drive as road are full of ice and snow there is a chance to skid while taking turnarounds especially.

[MrsE]

Great Advice! Definately time to think about those winter tyres!!!

[Ivo Beutler]

A road trip during the winter can be fun, but only if you prepare for the road ahead. You need to make sure that the car can handle the tricky winter road terrain, as it can be accident-prone with all that snow and. Add in the lower visibility, and you'll be in trouble if you don't have the skills to drive during the winter.