The winter weather is slowly creeping in with salting vehicles starting to hit the country roads over the past few weeks.
Here are some tips for driving in the changing driving conditions :
1. Be prepared.
It is advised that motorists carry a number of essentials in their car.
- High visibility vest
- Spare fuel
- Appropriate footwear in case you need to leave your vehicle e.g. boots
- A hazard warning triangle
- Spare wheel
- Tow Rope
- A shovel
- De-icing equipment (for glass and door locks)
- Spare bulbs
- First aid kit
- A fire extinguisher
- A working torch
- A car blanket, additional clothing & some food and water
2. Check your tyres.
Tyres should be at the minimum legal thread depth of 1.6mm. Tyres need to be to the correct tyre pressure to give the motorist the best chance in extreme conditions.
Another option is the extra grip of a Winter Tyre. Winter tyres work because the tread compound is designed to generate grip at below seven degrees C.
3. Use your lights.
Motorists are advised to use dipped head lights during the day so you are easily seen. Headlights and tail lights should be in working order.
4. Safe Distance.
It takes longer to stop a car with less grip so slow down and allow extra distance between you and the car in front.
5. Plan your Trips.
Lots of information about road and weather conditions is now available from either the AA or your local county council website. Take a look before you set off and change your route if it means driving on a road that has been salted.
To learn how to prepare your fleet for the cold weather, check out our blog post here.
