Motorists are being reminded of six little-known winter driving tips - which could help to save lives as cold weather arrives.
As we shiver our way through the coldest months of the year, drivers are being warned to prepare their cars for journeys thwarted by snow and ice.
There are some ‘obvious’ areas of a vehicle to focus on, and you should check the condition of the tyres, lights, battery, wiper blades, brakes and fluid levels.
But there are some less well-known winter driving ‘hacks’ that all motorists should follow - with a key piece of advice being to let others know of your intended route before setting off so that they can raise the alarm if you get into difficulties.
App it
If you can’t postpone your trip and you’re venturing out into wintery conditions, always let others know where you’re going, your planned route, and what time you expect to arrive. If you’re then late to arrive at your destination, or if you don’t show up at all, the alarm can be raised. Let modern technology help here, too. Apps like Strava allow you to set a beacon which shares your precise location with your ‘safety contacts’. It works just as well when you’re driving as it does when you’re out jogging or walking the dog and it could offer real peace of mind to motorists and their loved ones.
Keep your vehicle well ventilated
You’ll want to crank up the heating in your vehicle in order to warm the cabin and to clear windows from condensation. But you also need to be mindful that a sweltering interior can also make you drowsy, and being slightly sleepy behind the wheel is never a good thing. If you still need the heating on to stop windows becoming fogged-up, crack a window as well to let some fresh air inside.
Stuck in a snow drift? DON’T leave your vehicle
Motorists in the UK might well encounter snow drifts in hillier or more rural parts of the country, and you often see large banks of snow piled up on roadsides that have been created by snow ploughs. And while it might sound completely counter-intuitive, the advice is to NOT leave your vehicle if you hit a deep drift. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) says you should instead, ‘call your breakdown service or the emergency services and let help come to you’. You should also NOT run the engine to keep warm. That’s because your exhaust may have become blocked by snow, causing potentially deadly carbon monoxide to seep into the car’s interior. Always make sure you’ve got warm jackets stowed for such eventualities.
Fuel your car AND your phone
During snowy weather, try to keep your fuel tank - or electric vehicle battery - as close to full as you can. The last thing you want to be doing is running out of fuel, or energy, when there’s snow and ice on the ground, particularly if you get caught in traffic congestion. Don’t neglect your phone, either, and ensure you’re not setting off without a charger in the cabin.
Plan your journey carefully
Even if you’ve driven the same route a thousand times and you know exactly where you’re going, map the journey with an app that can let you know about potential road disruptions, closures or congestion ahead. If the emergency services are suggesting you don’t travel at all, be prepared to postpone your journey. And be realistic about how ‘essential’ a journey might actually be.
Don’t brake on bends
Unless there’s no other option, try not to brake as you’re going around a bend. Braking on an ice or snow-covered curve could cause your vehicle to spin, as centrifugal forces pull you outwards. Instead, slow your speed on the straight before the bend, taking your foot off the accelerator and selecting a lower gear if appropriate.
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