What Everybody Ought To Know About Driving in the Snow
While we haven’t seen any yet, it won’t be long before the snow and ice makes an appearance now that the mercury is dropping! Make sure you read our tips on how to drive your vehicle so you can get safely from A to B!
The first thing you need to do when there's snow and ice on the roads, is to assess whether you even need to drive in it at all. If it's really bad out there, it's best to stay indoors. If you decide that it's safe to travel, our tips below should help!
Manual Vehicles
If you drive a manual car, there are a few things to remember:
1. Pull away in second gear, easing your foot off the clutch to avoid wheel spin;
2. If you are going downhill, stay in a low gear and try to avoid braking;
3. Dropping gears instead of braking can help prevent skidding.
Automatic Vehicles
If you drive an automatic vehicle, these are good points to take onboard;
1. Some automatic cars have a ‘Winter Mode’ so check your handbook;
2. Some come with L, 2 or +/- to allow drivers to change to a higher or lower gear in snowy conditions;
3. Take extra care!
Checks and Maintenance
Take time to check the following;
1. Headlights
2. Windscreen wipers
3. Tyres
4. Fluid levels
5. Anti-freeze levels
6. Supplies in your car like non-perishable food, water, warm clothing, a torch, a first aid kit and a scraper, to name a few!
Tips
- Get up ten minutes earlier to give you time to de-ice your car
- Have sunglasses in your car to protect your visibility from low sun dazzle
- Make sure your wipers are switched off when leaving the car. If they freeze overnight and you switch the engine back on, it could cause damage to the blades or fuse
- Clear snow from your roof and windows – failure to do so could land you a fine and points on your license
- Use a cigarette lighter to warm up a key if the lock is frozen
- Wear comfortable, dry shoes
- If you get stuck, straighten your tyres and dig out the excess snow. Use a sack or old rug to help the tyres gain traction
- Make sure your phone is charged, or you have a charger in the car, and that you have your breakdown service number stored in your phone
- Keep your car clean – the salt on the roads can cause corrosion if left too long
- If in doubt, postpone your trip!
You can book in for your Winter Health Check which comes with a FREE Winter Safety Pack, all for £29.99 (inc. VAT)! For more info, click here
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