|
Winter Driving TipsDon't drive in icy winter conditions unless your journey is absolutely necessary or else consider using public transport.
If you do need to drive in adverse icy winter conditions it may be a good idea to buy a set of tyre socks to give you more grip. They can be bought in any good motor factor for around €50 depending on the size of your tyres..
Don't drive unless all of your windows and mirrors are completely clear. Make sure to carry an ice scraper and de-icer to help to clear them. Turn up your temperature control to "max". Turn on your front and rear demisters and turn on your fan to "max". It only take a few minutes and is crucial so you can see properly.
Drive with your DIPPED lights on even during the day as well as night time so you can be seen a long distance away, This will greatly reduce the possibility of any serious accidents and crashes.
Try to avoid steep hills at all costs or try to avoid stopping completely in case you lose traction and roll backwards. Try to keep your vehicle crawling at a slow speed to prevent loss of traction or tyre grip to climb up hills.
Top up your ENGINE COOLANT (with an anti-freeze agent) WINDSCREEN WASH(with anti-freeze agent) BRAKE FLUID, ENGINE OIL & POWER STEERING FLUID.
Check your tyres are have enough air because they tend to lose air in damp and freezing conditions.
Clear all windows and windscreen with the demister system with a cloth before and as you drive to stop the inside of the windows( from fogging up or leave them open a tiny bit will help.
In housing estates where the roads are worst affected, drive slowly in 1st gear in thick snow or ice and 2nd gear on the straight and make turns in 1st gear epecially when turning across ice to ensure you down SLIDE out of control. Drive in the highest gear possible. This will improve your grip on the road and further reduce wheel spin.
If you're sliding out of control and you cannot stop, USE YOUR HANDBRAKE! along with your footbrake and clutch. This will give you more stopping power.
When driving around bends take them very slow in 2nd gear and don't accelerate until your wheels are straight.
Don't over rev when moving off of your wheels will spin. If you brake too hard you will slide or cause wheel-spin also so be very gentle on the brake. Slow down with gentle braking nice and early when turning or stopping.
Keep at least double the normal stopping distance from the car in front and read the road ahead for traffic slowing down approaching major junctions and roundabouts. Approach them slow in 2nd gear. You are supposed to keep 4 TIMES THE NORMAL BRAKING DISTANCE IN SNOW AND ICY CONDITIONS!!
Even on main roads that are wet and clear of snow and ice, keep well back from the vehicle in front and watch out for icy patches. Watch the road surface and avoid driving over SLUSH or SNOW and ICE if you can. DON'T DRIVE TOO SLOW, and try and keep to the speed of vehicles around you. Watch out for shiny patches = BLACK ICE! It is LETHAL so please please take your time and ARRIVE ALIVE!!!
PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS are the most vulnerable road users so give them plenty of space especially in housing estates and approaching junctions and pedestrian or zebra crossings. This is where pedestrians and children are most likely to walk out in front of you without any warning!
|
|
|
|
|
