Many of us will travel to spend time with our families over the festive period.
Since it’s six times more likely for drivers to have an accident in the winter than summer time, Mark Griffiths from Continental Tyres, gives us his Top Ten Tips for safe winter driving.
1. Carry an in-car winter essentials kit.
It should include a couple of wind-up torches, a few litres of bottled water, non-perishable food, blankets, extra clothing, de-icer, an ice scraper, a car phone charger and of course, your breakdown cover. If you happen to break down or get stuck in traffic, you’ll be thankful if you’ve prepared.
2. Fill-up with fuel before you set off.
You can never be sure you won’t hit traffic and if you do you’ll need to use lower gears and change them frequently, which uses more fuel as a result. It’s not a great moment to call for help because of an empty tank.
3. Check your tyre tread depth.
It should be 3mm and above for maximum safety. A good way to check this is by placing a 20p piece in the groove of the tread; if you can see the coin’s outer edge this means your tyres may be illegal and could result in a fine of up to £2,500 – not the cash anyone would be happy to part with over Christmas.
4. Ensure your tyres have enough pressure.
Before setting off you should check your tyre pressure – you will find the recommendations for your car in the owner’s manual, on the inside ledge of the car door or fuel filler cap. Not only does the correct pressure keep you safe, it also saves money on fuel and lengthens tyre life.
5. Check your lights are clean and working.
It is really important that you can see the road ahead and other drivers on short wintery days when daylight is scarce.
6. Keep your windscreen and windows clear.
Visibility is vital, especially during the winter months, so ensure the car is de-iced and de-misted. Use anti-freeze in your car’s radiator and windscreen wash to avoid them from freezing up. Also – contrary to its name – ensure the parcel shelf is clear of any presents, or other items, that might block the view through the rear window. These can also cause injury should you need to brake suddenly.
7. Increase the distance from you and the car in front.
Leave a generous space between vehicles in all weather conditions. In rain, snow and ice your stopping distance is increased, so you need to allow enough space to stop safely. Remember the saying ‘only a fool breaks the 2 second rule’ between cars.
8. Use a lower gear in bad weather conditions.
If the road is slippery or icy, drive slowly and avoid harsh pressure on the brakes or accelerator. Use a lower gear to enable the engine to act as a brake and only apply the brakes gently when necessary. At low speeds it is worth while using second gear, rather than first, to avoid the wheels from spinning.
9. Take regular breaks.
Busy lifestyles, long working hours and shorter winter days can make a lot of people feel tired. Make regular stops, especially if you are travelling a long distance, so that you always have the ability to make quick reactions.
10. If possible, fit winter tyres to your car.
It’s a common misconception that winter tyres are just for use on snow and ice. Winter tyres are made from a different rubber compound and this means that they don’t harden at cold temperatures as summer tyres do. This gives them extra grip in cold, wet or icy conditions, which means you are safer with winter tyres when the temperature drops below 7°C. The results speak for themselves – if you use winter tyres and drive on an icy road at 20mph you’ll stop up to 11m sooner than you would with standard tyres. That could be the difference between being involved in an accident or not.
This is a Guest blog from Continental Tyres, consistently a top performer in tyre reviews about premium brands. Since 2007 they’ve topped over 80% of ALL independent tyre tests undertaken throughout Europe.
They’ve also won ‘Tire Manufacturer of the Year’ in Tire Technology International 2014 Awards. One in three new cars made in Europe is fitted with Continentals requiring their tyres to pass more than 100 stringent tests. Not just that but Continental also carry out more than 700 million test miles annually and test as many as 200 different rubber compounds daily.
Re: photo – Continental sponsors the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the Women’s National League.