Winter Roads Driving Tips
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- Admin
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- Posted date:
- 26-09-2019

Our Guide to Winter Driving Tips
As winter approaches thoughts tend to turn to the colder weather and how we can prepare for it. This includes keeping safe on the road. You may find some of the following tips for driving in winter useful.
General Tips For Driving In Winter
You should ensure that your tyres are at the correct pressure regularly throughout winter. You also need to make sure that your lights are working and that your windscreen and wipers are in good condition. Cruise control should not be used when the road is likely to be slippery, and you should always check the weather before you set off on a journey, even if it is short.
If your journey is not urgent, then you may want to delay it until the weather has improved. If you must travel, then it can be useful to let someone know which route you will be travelling and what time you expect to arrive.
Driving In Snowy Conditions
When there is ice and snow on the road, then it will take you longer to slow down and come to a stop.
When the conditions are dry, then it can take three to four seconds to stop, but this will more than double in bad weather conditions. You also need to bear in mind that others on the road may not be as good a driver as you.
Leaving a safe distance between you and the car in front can make sure that you can stop in time. When you are accelerating you should do so gently and move off in second gear can help prevent the wheels from slipping.
If you are driving in snow, then try and avoid driving in the tracks of cars that are in front of you. This is because the snow becomes compressed when it is driven off, and this makes it more likely that it will be icy.
If you do find yourself skidding on ice, then you should try not to panic. It can be a frightening experience, but you need to stay calm so that you can think clearly. Steer into the direction of the skid and do not apply the brakes too harshly.
Driving In Flooded Conditions
You should drive through a flood in first gear and try to ensure that the engine remains at a high rate of revs. This is to prevent the car from stalling.
If you are driving an automatic car, then you should stay in a low gear while you are driving through the flood. When you are out of the water, you should check your brakes to make sure that they are still working as they should.
Driving In Foggy Conditions
Dipped lights should be used whenever it is foggy. Fog lights only need to be used when visibility is less than 100 metres.
There is a risk of you dazzling other drivers with fog lights if the visibility is better than this. You should always make sure that you keep a safe distance from the car in front of you.
In the UK, main roads are often treated to reduce the amount of ice and snow that build upon them. This makes it easier to drive on, but care still needs to be taken.
The main thing to remember is that you need to take a bit more time and make sure that you have enough time and space to react to any situations that may arise.
We offer rock salt spreading throughout Aberdeen, Peterhead, Dundee and Aberdeenshire. Follow the link below to find out more about the areas that we offer road gritting in north Scotland.