In winter, you need to be much more wary on the roads as weathers are more likely to include rain, ice and fog. With a reported 45% of drivers who don’t do any checks on their vehicle before winter starts, we want to help advise you on how to keep you and your loved ones safe. Keep safe driving.
Checks For Your Car-
*Make sure wipers and lights are in good working order.
*Add antifreeze to the radiator and winter additive to the windscreen washer bottles.
*Check that tyres have plenty of tread depth and are maintained at the correct pressure.
If any problems arise with these, ensure you get them fixed as soon as possible at a local garage as these will all add to your safety on the road. Keep safe driving.
Also, always give your car a check for ice or snow and remove it with a scraper, this will make sure your view is not obscured at any point during your journey.
The Alert System-
Many of us are used to hearing of a weather alert, but what do they actually mean in keep safe driving?
Yellow:
This relates to low-level impact weather, this alert suggests it is safe to drive. However you may want to check your route for any road closures as a result of the forecast.
Amber:
Amber alerts are issued when the weather is likely to cause a larger impact i.e power cuts, transport delays, and a potential danger to life. At this point, it is important to question if your journey is necessary and if it is, ensure your car is fit to drive and drive cautiously.
Red:
This means, avoid travelling at all costs as serious danger to life and property is expected.
When driving in icy or rainy conditions, not only is your vision impaired but the weather causes the roads to slippy. This means when braking in these weather conditions, your car’s stopping distance can be up to 10x further then in normal weather. Therefore it is vital you drive slower, keep safe driving, and allow further gaps between you and the car infront in case you require an emergency stop.
Emergency Kit-Keep safe driving
In case you do get caught in an accident, witness another or end up stuck somewhere it is always handy to have an emergency kit in the car. Here’s a list of things we recommend including..
*Tow Rope
*Hazard Warning Triangle
*De-icing equipment
*Warm clothes
*Blankets
*Working Torch
*Food and drinks
*Fully charged phone
The important thing is keeping you and others safe, keep safe driving. So ensure you know the number of any breakdown service provider you have, in case of emergencies. Also, if on a road, your car must be clearly visible to other cars, so put your lights on and put your hazard warning triangle out.
Drive safely this winter and checkout this blog if you’re looking for other winter checklists!
