Getting ready for winter driving
Winter brings several driving hazards, but with the right preparation and some extra care, you can minimise your chances of having an accident
While driving in winter:
Take extra care while driving in winter, be ready for poor visibility and glare. Accelerate and brake gently in wet or icy conditions and use an appropriate gear for the road condition.
Driving in a lower gear will give you more control of your vehicle and enables you to brake in a more controlled fashion. However using gears to slow down a car may not be appropriate for newer cars with anti-lock braking systems nor can it be used on automatic cars. You should take advice from your car manufacturer if you need specific advice.
Stopping distances are doubled on rain soaked roads and can increase by more than 10 times on ice! If your car goes into a skid, steer in the direction of the skid and try not to brake or accelerate until you're back in control.
Preparing your car for winter driving:
Antifreeze
Antifreeze stops the water in your car's engine from freezing up. The higher the concentration, the colder your engine can get without freezing up but neat antifreeze can turn to sludge when very cold. A 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water is usually a good strength but your garage should be able to advise you if you're in doubt.
Screen wash
Keep your windscreen washer bottle topped up with water and a good quality screen wash. The screen wash stops the water freezing and also contains additives that will remove the road grease from your windscreen. Check the level regularly as you have a legal responsibility to ensure that your windscreen is clear at all times!
Wiper blades
When you get dirty streaks across your windscreen after you've turned your wipers off, it's time for a change.
De-icer and ice scraper
Carry a can of de-icer and a scraper. You can also use the de-icer to free up frozen door locks and petrol filler locks. Don't pour hot water onto your windscreen as it might crack or shatter.