Cart is empty
The winter season brings snow, ice and sleet to the roads, making it tricky to navigate your way safely to your destination. When hitting the road, you want to take your time to check your car, maneuver gently and slow your speed. We’ve listed our top tips below to make winter driving less daunting:
Before you set off
Driving in winter takes a bit more preparation. You want to make sure you plan your route around major roads since they will be cleared and gritted. The car window screens need at least 10 minutes every morning to de-ice as well. Other things to check up on are the fuel levels, you need at least a quarter of fuel for unexpected delays. The headlights of your car should be on and clear of snow, so do your number plates if you want to avoid fines. If you hit the road often, you might want to consider swapping to winter tyres, we recommend at least 3mm of tread for the winter.
Keep your distance
Our top tip is to take it slow. When driving on icy or snowy roads, your stopping distance increases significantly from what it usually is. This means you need to keep a long distance from the person in front of you, in case you do start losing control of your car when hitting an ice patch. Keep in mind, stopping distances can be 10 times longer when it's icy.
Adjust your driving
You want to avoid breaking as much as you can in icy conditions, so there are a few tricks to apply when it comes to winter driving. If you are struggling to get started, pull away in second gear to get a grip. When driving uphill, leave plenty of room between other cars so you don’t have to break halfway up. The same counts for driving downhill. Slow down before the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid braking.
When you hit the ice
You’ll notice you lose control of the car when you start slipping on an ice patch. Try to stay calm, hold both hands on the steering wheel and most importantly avoid braking. To recover from slipping, you should also try to steer into the skid to get you straight and back on track. If you get stuck in snow straighten your steering and clear the snow from the wheels. It could be useful to keep an old sack or rug in the back, to use under the wheels for grip when starting.
Winter car survival kit
Since your car is more prone to breakdowns in winter, you might want to carry a breakdown kit with you. This could contain a blanket, torch, fully charged phone, some food and any other essentials you think you may need. Must-haves in winter are also an ice scraper for your windows, a first aid kit and a shovel. That way you'll be prepared for a long wait in the cold if you do get stuck along the road.
PF Jones can provide outstanding QUALITY of products in the automotive market, preparing you for a safe winter. Have a look at our range of products on our webshop
Comments
No posts found
