As winter has well and truly set upon us and Christmas is only a couple of weeks away, every driver needs to take extra care and precautions while out on the UK’s roads. At Absolute Deliveries, we deliver vehicles all over the UK and clock up 1,000’s of miles a month, by taking time and preparing vehicles properly before every trip, we ensure the safety for our drivers, customers and other road users. Here are our top 5 tips for Winter Driving
Top Tip 1 – Plan Your Trips
We’re in the digital age of Satellite Navigation where most
drivers simply plug in the Sat Nav, type the destination and set off, but still
take time to plan the trip, ensuring you know the basic route you need to take.
A Sat Nav is great for the final 1/3 of your trip but knowing the main route will
stop any last minute changes of lanes or u-turns which can become lethal in
dark, wet or snowy conditions.
Top Tip 2 – Prepare Your Vehicle
Final checking your vehicles levels for water, oil and
lights are crucial for an incident free trip. As the nights are longer during
British winter time, your vehicle needs fully working lights and by topping up oil
and water you will reduce the chance of a vehicle breakdown. There is nothing
worse than the engine oil light flickering on and you’re stranded in the middle
of the countryside in freezing cold weather.
Top Tip 3 – Carry the Essentials
Make sure the boot of your vehicle is stocked up with the
essentials, by that we mean the following
1.
An hazard warning triangle,
2.
Small shovel,
3.
High visibility jacket,
4.
Blanket and Winter clothing
5.
Torch
6.
De-Icing Kit (Scrapers, and spray)
Top Tip 4 – Check Your Tyres
Tyres that are partially or completely worn away will
be less effective in wet, icy or snowy conditions. The extra grip of a new tyre
will mean the difference of a few yards in breaking distance, which could be
life-saving. The minimum tread on a tyre is 1.6mm
Top Tip 5 – Keep Your Distance
On icy roads, simply leave as much space between you and
the car in front as possible whilst taking care when driving around corners or at
junctions. Stopping distances are at least twice as long in ice and snow than
normal condition's breaking
By considering these tips everytime you drive will help in
keeping you and your family safe throughout this winter period.
