Winter Driving Advice

Now that the clocks have gone back and Halloween and Bonfire night are over, it feels as if winter is really and truly on its way. We are aware that a number of you will be involved in domiciliary care and as such spend a good part of your working day on the road, driving between client visits. We therefore thought that now was an opportune time to provide some tips and advice on safer driving during the colder weather.

  • When driving in wintery conditions it’s important that you have good visibility at all times, so make sure your windscreen, windows and mirrors are free from grit and dust. You also need to check that all of the lights on your car are working properly.
  • Windscreen wipers need to be in good working order, so they are able to clean your windscreen effectively. Also adding a winter additive to your screenwash will stop it from freezing and allow you to clean your windscreen properly when necessary.
  • It’s important to check your tyres at this time of year making sure there is enough tread on each. The legal limit is 1.6mm however having at least 3mm depth will help to disperse water on the road if you are driving in heavy rain.
  • Should you encounter snow then make sure before you drive off that your bonnet and roof are clear. It can be extremely dangerous to you and other road users if snow blows off whilst you are driving along, and remember in ice and snow stopping distances are 10 times longer.
  • When pulling away on a snowy road use second gear, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid spinning. Also if heavy snow is forecast then it might be worth putting a spade in your boot should you need to clear the area around your parked car.
  • Make sure that your phone is always fully charged and ideally carry a blanket, a hi-vis vest, a torch and some jump leads with you in your car during the winter months
  • Finally always plan your journey, checking the weather conditions in the area you are going to.
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