Did you know the leading cause of death during winter months is transportation accidents? Preparing your vehicle for the winter season and knowing how to re-act if stranded or lost on the road are key to safe winter driving.

1. ...the leading cause of death during winter months
is transportation accidents? Preparing your vehicle
Do… for the winter season and knowing how to re-act if
1.
stranded or lost on the road are key to safe winter
make certain your tyres are properly driving.
inflated.
2.
...hypothermia is a condition brought on when the
keep your fuel tank at least half full to body temperature drops to less than 90 degrees
avoid running low on fuel in bad traffic and Fahrenheit, try to keep warm, huddle together if
weather. accompanied - try not to stay in one position for
too long.
3. check your lights are working properly.
4. watch your speed - be aware of
...grip is at a premium in winter conditions. Did you
know, for example, that a tyre with legal minimum
pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. 1.6mm tread depth displaces 85 per cent less
5.
water than a new tyre? So, to prevent the risk of
drive alert and have rest breaks. aquaplaning, do beware of the danger of standing
water, even if it’s not frozen. Do remember to use
your brakes immediately after going through
Don’t… standing water to make sure they will operate
1. warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area,
effectively when needed.
such as a garage.
…on average 3,000 people are killed or seriously
2. leave your vehicle unattended with the injured each year in drink drive collisions.
engine running
3. defrost windscreen by pouring boiling During the festive season
water onto it.
DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!
4. attempt any journey in severe weather, Please be more vigilant with other drivers as they
unless absolutely necessary.
may have been drinking.
5. use your handbrake in cold, rainy and
snowy weather. Get caught drink driving and you’ll be
processed like any other criminal.
Think! Is it worth it?

2. As winter weather comes, the AA ♦ Carry an ice-scraper, de-icer, food, hot flask, How to protect your
bottle of water, blanket and a warning triangle
offers us some top tips for driving and high visual vest in the car.
car...
in snow and ice as well as how you ♦ Engine/cooling system -
can protect your car... ♦ If you do get stuck, straighten the steering and Check antifreeze levels.
clear the snow from the wheels. Put a sack or A 50/50 mix of antifreeze to
The AA's general advice for driving in snow or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the water will protect the engine
ice is as follows: tyres some grip. Once on the move again, try down to –34C.
not to stop until you reach firmer ground.
♦ Stopping distances are ten times longer in ♦ Handbrake - Check for
ice and snow. ♦ Clear snow from the roof as well as from damage to handbrake cable
windows. Snow piled up on the roof can fall onto covering. Cables should be
♦ Gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe the windscreen obscuring your view and can changed if water has penetrated.
driving in heavy snow. Use all the also be a hazard to other road users. You could
be fined up to £2,500 and receive three ♦ Washers and wipers - A 50/50 mix of
car's controls - accelerator, brakes,
clutch and steering - as gently penalty points if the police consider your car additive to water is needed in very
and progressively as possible. a danger to other road users. cold weather. Switch wipers off when
Select second gear when parked in frost. If ice forms on the
pulling away, easing your foot ♦ Keep to main roads as they are wipers, doing so prevents damaging
off the clutch gently to avoid more likely to be gritted and will be blades or overheating the wiper motor
wheel-spin. Try to maintain a patrolled by police. when the car is started.
constant speed, choosing the most ♦ Locks - Oil door and boot locks and
suitable gear in advance to avoid having to ♦ Never let other speeding drivers lull you into a spray with water repellent to prevent
change down while climbing a hill. When false sense of security. freezing. Similarly for bonnet and fuel
driving downhill, choose third or fourth gear cap.
to prevent skidding. ♦ Only drive as fast as conditions allow.
♦ Diesel - Can become waxy and
♦ Wear comfortable, dry shoes: ♦ If local conditions are particularly bad, be unusable below –15C. Some
cumbersome, snow-covered boots will slip prepared to wait a little longer for assistance additives can lower this temperature. If
on the pedals. from the breakdown organisations, as cases possible, garage your vehicle in
have to be prioritised. extreme cold.
♦ General - Check oil level, battery,
lights, and tyre tread and pressures.