Hands up who has gone to bed this week dreading the icy roads in the morning? Every winter, just as we think that we have got off lightly, the temperatures drop and the frost sets in. And yet, every year, we act surprised! A thick frost is beautiful and, to us Brits, a real novelty, but it can be daunting and dangerous, too. Check out our top tips for staying safe in a cold snap.
Stay prepared
There are a few things that you can do to prevent breaking down, and other precautions that will help to keep you safe in the event that you do:
- Check your tires. Don’t even think of driving on icy roads if your tires are not in good condition, or if they are underinflated. And remember, cold weather means that the air inside your tires will be cooler, too, making them a little flatter.
- Fill up on fuel. Keep your tank half full; this will prevent droplets of ice from getting into your fuel.
- Keep an emergency pack in your car, particularly if you are driving for long distances or on icy roads. Cereal bars, a blanket, spare warm clothes and a torch could come in handy on a cold, dark night.
Modify your driving
A crucial part of driving is to ensure that you drive in a manner that accounts for the driving conditions. Your speed and driving style will, therefore, differ for wet conditions versus dry, or light vs dark.
- Reduce your speed – the best way to deal with icy conditions is to drive carefully and slowly (without driving dangerously slow). That way, if you do hit ice, you are less likely to be driving at a dangerous speed.
- Avoid braking. One big mistake people make when they hit ice is to brake. The general rule is to make no sudden movements, so don’t slam the brakes on, just gently ease your foot off the accelerator.
- Steer into the skid. We have all heard this advice before, but what does it mean? Basically, if you do skid you want to steer in the same direction as the back of your car is going. This can feel counter-intuitive, so the fundamental rule when skidding on ice (or anything else, for that matter) is to look in the direction that you want to go. If the front of your car is heading towards a tree on your right, the back is going to be heading left. Don’t look at the tree; look left, and you will intuitively steer in the same direction as you are skidding.
If you have a long journey coming up and you are unsure about your vehicle’s ability to cope with certain conditions, it’s worth popping into your local garage and asking for a general check: tires, anti-freeze and brakes to keep you safe, whatever the weather.
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