• Introduction
Winter motoring requires special care and a little preparation if you are to
avoid a breakdown or accident.
The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if
you can avoid it.
Do not go out until the snow ploughs and gritting vehicles have had a chance
to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is well prepared
and that you know how to handle your car in dangerous road conditions.
It is helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open car park,
so you are familiar with how your car handles.
Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to driving your vehicle in slippery conditions.
This guide is to help you with your journeys in severe weather, especially as it gets worse over winter.
Make sure you listen out for weather warnings and be prepared to change or delay your journey depending on advice being given.
It is recommended that you always check your route before you set out. Check the real-time traffic information provided for your routes.
• Driving safely on icy roads
" decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should
allow at least TEN times
more space than usual between you and the car in front of you
" if your tyres' are making virtually no noise this could be a sign that
you are driving on ice
" brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease
off the brake
" turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists
" keep your lights and windscreen clean
" using low gears will help you keep traction, especially on hills. Higher
gears can be used for better overall control
" do not use cruise control on icy roads
" be especially careful on bridges and infrequently travelled roads, which
will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are
wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges
" do not pass snow ploughs and gritting vehicles. The drivers have limited
visibility, and you are likely to find the road in front of them worse than
the road behind
" do not assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel
and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads
" clear any snow off the roof of the vehicle before you drive off. It can
slip down over the windscreen and obscure your view or blow onto the vehicle
behind you
" if your vehicle skids depress the clutch and turn the steering wheel
into the direction of the skid.
When the vehicle straightens, steer along the road. Do not brake - it will just
lock up your wheels and you will skid further.
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• Hazards.
" When you come to a hazard you are unsure about, Stop!" Look at the hazard it self. Get out of the car if necessary (remembering to take the keys with yoYou never know who's around).
" Assess the risks, giving consideration to the risk of injury to yourself or any other person and/or the risk of damaging the vehicle or other property.
" Drive if you decide to continue drive as slowly as possible.
" The overriding factor in any circumstance is am I happy that I will achieve my objective without injury to any person or damage to any property. If you are in any doubt then select an alternative route. There are no medals awarded for bravery when driving in slippery conditions.
" Be realistic about the capabilities of the vehicle. Vehicle capabilities vary wildly depending on which wheels are driven, the size and type of tyres fitted and the weight of the vehicle. No matter what sort of car you may drive be it a Porsche, Range Rover or Peugeot there is always a point where physics will take over the control of the car from you.
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• Automatic cars.
" The automatic gearboxes fitted to cars vary from manufacturer to manufacturer
and is also dependant on the year and available technology available at the
time the car was built.
" Read the user handbook.
" If the gearbox has a winter setting, this should be selected. In most cases this will mean the car will pull away in second gear when in Drive. Some tip-tronic type gearboxes allow the manual selection of 2nd gear and will actually allow the car to pull away in this gear (e.g. BMW X5)
" If you have to negotiate a down hill stop, then manually select the lowest gear (1st gear hold). The engine braking will then control the vehicles speed during the descent, try to avoid braking as this is likely to provoke a skid. If braking is necessary then as early and smoothly as possible.
" Up hill try a higher gear if able, again to limit the power transmitted through the driven wheels as maximum traction is often found before maximum power. This depends vastly on the make/model and year of the vehicle. Some tip-tronic type gearboxes allow the manual selection of 2nd gear and will actually allow the car to pull away in this gear (e.g. BMW X5)
" When driving on slippery surfaces I would be inclined to use the gearbox manually (selecting each gear in turn) particularly when slowing to reduce the need for braking both in automatic and manual cars. This obviously calls for optimum concentration, observation, anticipation and planning. It goes without saying speeds should always be low.
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• Rear wheel skids
" take your foot off the accelerator
" steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear
wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they are sliding right, steer right
" if your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease
the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right
a few times to get your vehicle completely under control
" if you are forced to brake and have standard brakes, pump them gently
" if you are forced to brake and have anti-lock brakes (ASS), do not pump
the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse
- this is normal.
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• Front wheel skids
" take your foot off the accelerator and depress the clutch but do not
try to steer immediately.
If your vehicle starts to skid:
" depress the clutch. Do not brake
" turn the steering wheel into the direction of the skid
" when the vehicle straightens, steer along the road
" release the clutch and accelerate gently.
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• If you get stuck
" do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper
" turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the
way
" use a light touch on the accelerator, to ease your car out
" use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of
the car
" pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to
help get traction
" try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first - it can damage
the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back
again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the accelerator until
the vehicle gets going.
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• Winter preparation
Prepare your car for winter. A check-up should include
" check ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts
" changing and adjusting the spark plug
" check air, fuel and emission filters
" inspect the distributor
" check the battery. Most batteries last between two and four years. Make
sure yours is fully charged
and replace it if you're not sure it's reliable
" check the tyres for air, sidewall wear and tread depth
" check antifreeze levels
" service the vehicle
" keep lights clean and check bulbs regularly so you'll be prepared for
lower visibility and shorter days
" ensure your tyres are inflated to the manufacturers' recommended pressure
and have at least 3mm of tread depth - enables a better grip on the road
" make sure wiper blades aren't worn so you can keep your windscreen as
clean as possible for the extra spray, ice and rain
" keep some cardboard inn the boot. Shoved under the front of the driving
wheels can assist grip
" dirty windows and mirrors can make it hard to see as the low winter sun
hits. Make sure they are kept clean and free of ice and snow in colder weather.
Ensure windows are clear and de-misted before setting off!
" finally, take a map to help in any unplanned diversions.
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• Necessary equipment
An emergency situation on the road can arise at any time and you must be prepared. In addition to making sure you have a full tank of fuel, and fresh anti-freeze, it is recommended you should carry the following items in your boot:
" properly inflated spare tyre, wheel wrench and functional jack
" shovel
" bag of salt or cat litter
" tool kit
" ice scraper, de-icer and snow brush
" torch and extra batteries
" warm clothes, woollen hat and gloves and a woollen blanket or sleeping
bag
" a pair of boots or wellingtons
" first-aid kit
" battery jump leads
" mobile phone
" food and a warm drink in a flask for particularly cold weather
" it is also worth keeping a pair of sunglasses in the glove compartment
to protect from the glare from
the low winter sun
" reflective triangles
" compass
" first aid kit
" exterior windscreen cleaner
" wooden stick matches in a waterproof container
" scissors and string/cord
" fluorescent or brightly coloured cloth.
" Small broom to clear the snow form hard to reach areas
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• If You Become Stranded ...
" do not leave your car unless you know exactly where you are, how far
it is to possible help, and are certain you will improve your situation
" to attract attention, hang a brightly coloured cloth from your radio
aerial
" if you are sure the car's exhaust pipe is not blocked, run the engine
and heater for about 10 minutes
every hour or so depending upon the amount of fuel in the tank
" to protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia use the woollen items
and blankets to keep warm
" keep at least one window open slightly. Heavy snow and ice can seal a
car shut
" eat and drink food carried in vehicle.
Updates
" the latest information on road conditions on UK motorways and trunk
roads is available from the Highways Agency website at http://www.highways.gov.uk/
or from the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 5040 30
" Traffic Radio is available on Digital radio or via the internet at: http://www.trafficradio.org.uk/
or on local radio bulletins
" information on weather conditions is available from the Met Office at:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ or local radio broadcasts.
Further information
www.brake.org.uk/facts/winter-driving
www.theaa.com/motoring advice/seasonal/winter