Are you ready for winter weather?

The temperature is dropping more and more these days and of all the seasons, winter requires the most care and preparation if you are to stay safe. Wheater conditions will affect the way we drive, and there are a range of challenges you could encounter over the winter season.

In order to enjoy a calm journey in the next few months make sure you know how to look after your vehicle and adapt your driving.

Here are a few tips on how to stay safe when you encounter ice, black ice and snow:

Ice and Black Ice

• Ice reduces grip with the road surface making all aspects of traction, steering, and braking less effective. Ice on the road surface will massively increase your stopping distances. Brake early and gently. Black ice is invisible.
• Steering and braking must be gentle so as not to upset the high centre of gravity of your vehicle thereby causing you to lose control.
• Ice can build up on the windscreen, windows, the vehicle body and on the roof of the body. This may present a danger to other road users.
• Your vehicle has ABS, therefore you should not use ‘cadence braking’ (pumping the pedal) to slow the vehicle.

Snow

• Drive at a slow speed in as high a gear as possible; accelerate and brake very gently. Know the limitations of traction control and retarders.
• Drive slowly on bends where loss of control is more likely. Brake progressively on the straight before you reach a bend. Having slowed down, steer smoothly and avoid sudden actions.
• Check your grip on the road surface when there is snow or ice by choosing a safe place to brake gently. If the steering feels unresponsive this may indicate ice and your vehicle losing its grip on the road. When travelling on ice, tyres make virtually no noise.
• Keep well back from other road users, stopping distances can be ten times greater on snow and ice.
• Take care when overtaking vehicles spreading salt and watch out for snowploughs which may throw out snow on either side. Do not overtake them unless the lane you intend to use has been cleared.
• Gentle use of all of the controls is required to ensure the vehicle does not ‘break-away’ and you should use the differential lock to increase grip in the worst cases
• In snow using higher gears at low engine revs helps to maintain traction and avoid wheel spin