Winter

Wintry conditions can lead to problems on the road and reduced visibility. You must ensure that you adjust your driving to suit the weather conditions and if it is severe weather the best advice is not to drive at all.

Take note of the following to ensure a safer journey:

Ensure your vehicle is well maintained and serviced ready for winter – winter freeze added to the radiator, tyres have plenty of tread depth.
Listen / watch local travel information and inform someone of your plans and estimated time of arrival at your destination.
Make sure you are equipped with de icer and scraper, warm clothes, food, boots and a torch.
Be aware of reduced visibility due to the weather.
Reduce your speed to suit the condition.

In an emergency:

Stop somewhere safe to use your mobile/ ask a passenger to make the call or on a motorway if it’s safe to do so use a roadside emergency telephone, because the breakdown/emergency services will be able to locate you easily. If you have to use a mobile phone, make sure you know your location from the numbers on the marker posts on the side of the hard shoulder.
Stay with your vehicle until help arrives.
If you have to leave your vehicle to get help, make sure other drivers can see you.

In icy conditions:

You need to leave longer stopping distances– it can take ten times longer to stop on icy roads than on a dry road.
Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin.
If you start to skid, ease off the accelerator but do not brake suddenly.

In fog:

Drive slowly.
Use fog lights if visibility is seriously reduced.
Be aware that the fog can be patchy so avoid speeding up suddenly in case you come across more fog.

Winter sun:

Dazzling sun on a winters day can be extremely dangerous and can blind he driver for seconds at a time. Drive slowly and wear sunglasses.

Wet weather:

Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front as stopping distances are at least double those required for stopping on dry roads.
Be aware of spray coming from other vehicles.
In floods, take extra care and avoid deep water if possible.

Night Driving:

90% of a driver’s reaction depends on vision and vision is severely limited at night.

The key messages are:

Reduce your speed. You should be able to stop within the distance you can see.
Increase your following distances so you don’t blind the driver ahead of you
Make sure all lights are clean, working and adjusted properly.
Don’t dazzle others with your main beam
Make sure the windscreen is clean inside and out.
Use headlights whenever visibility is reduced – for example, early morning, at dusk, when it’s raining or in any gloomy conditions
If your vehicle breaks down, pull off the road as far as possible and switch on the hazard warning lights.
Check tyre pressure regularly.