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Our Top Winter Driving Safety Tips
As our customers' safety is of paramount importance to us we have strict policies in place to ensure all vehicles on our fleet are regularly serviced to a very high standard. Furthermore, the average age of our fleet is kept below one year old, bringing you the latest vehicle models with the most up to date technologies and safety features.
That said, driving in the Winter months is very different from other times of the year. Adverse weather conditions and longer periods of darkness make driving more hazardous so it is important to check before each journey that:
- All lights are clean and working
- Windscreen, wiper blades and other windows are clean and that the washer bottle is filled with screen wash
- Tyre pressures are correct, including the spare
- Fluids are kept topped up
When extreme weather is possible, keep an emergency kit in your vehicle, especially if you are going on a long journey. We recommend that you carry:
- A tow rope
- A shovel
- Wellington boots
- A hazard warning triangle
- De-icing equipment
- First aid kit
- A working torch
- Car blanket
- Warm clothes
- Emergency rations to include a hot drink
- Fully charged mobile phone
If you find yourself driving in snow or on icy roads, adapt your driving to these conditions:
- Reduce your speed to help lower the chances of skidding and increase your stopping distance
- Only travel at a speed at which you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear. Speed limits are the maximum in ideal conditions; in difficult conditions, they can often be too fast
- Avoid harsh braking and acceleration, or sharp steering
- Always reduce your speed smoothly and in plenty of time on slippery surfaces
- Slow down in plenty of time before bends and corners
- Braking on an icy or snow covered bend is extremely dangerous. The centrifugal force will continue to pull you outwards and the wheels will not grip very well. This could cause your vehicle to spin. To brake on ice and snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use your brakes gently
- Increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front. You may need up to TEN TIMES the normal distance for braking
- Keep your vehicle well ventilated. The car heater turned up full can quickly make you drowsy
- In snow, stop frequently to clean the windows, wheel arches, lights and number plates
- Visibility will probably be reduced, so use dipped headlights
During wintry weather, road surfaces are often wet and/or covered in frost and ice or snow, but this does not occur uniformly. A road will often have isolated patches of frost or ice after most of the road has thawed; this commonly occurs under bridges so always be cautious.
In the unlikely event of a breakdown, don't panic. Stay with your vehicle and phone the telephone number displayed in the windscreen of your hire vehicle.
Safe driving everyone!
By Lawrence Robertson
Published 01/12/2017
