Winter Car Check
Make Sure Your Car Is Safe: top tips for getting your car safe and ready for winter.
With increasing instances of extreme weather causing more and more problems at unexpected times of year, it is sensible to consider how safe and prepared you are for bad weather as a motorist as the winter months approach, especially if you drive regularly or are planning any long distance drives in the winter.
ROSPA (The Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents) is a signatory to the European Road Safety Charter and recommends that you carry certain safety equipment with you at all times during the winter months so that you are covered in every weather condition.
The basic safety kit would comprise of the following:
- Towrope
- Spare wheel
- De-icing equipment
- First Aid Kit
- Torch
- Thick/warm blanket
Another way to get your car ready is to book it in for a safety check or to go through the following considerations with a fine toothcomb.
Remember: winter months are hard on any model of car and these checks should become standard checks before leaving for long distance journeys in the cold weather.
- Firstly check your tyre pressure; tyres should be checked every two weeks for optimum safety. If this seems excessive, imagine the effect any skidding will have on your tyres and the fact that the wrong pressure or tread can cost you £2,500 per tyre if caught you are by the police.
- Batteries should always be checked alongside the effectiveness of your brakes; if either of these fail you in bad weather the results could cause you serious problems.
- Another important consideration is to check your windscreen wipers. If yours are worn at all, you should invest in replacement blades; if you're caught in a sudden blizzard and can't clear your windscreen you could be a serious hazard to yourself and others.
- Your lights should be cleaned of any dirt at all times during the winter months and particular attention should be paid to make sure your headlamp dip and alignment are correct so as not to confuse other drivers.
- Before the severe cold sets in it's a good idea to spray the electrics under your bonnet with something like WD40 to prevent the damp getting in. When setting off for long journeys re-spray the electrics and check your screen wash levels. At this time of year remember, your screen wash should have an active anti freeze ingredient in it.
- Once on the road, be prepared to adapt your normal driving skills to the weather, and always look to spot hazards before you come upon them. Leaving a longer braking distance between you and other vehicles is always advisable in bad weather so you can avoid harsh braking which can lead to skidding and loss of control and often accidents.
- If you are driving over ice or snow always use as high a gear as possible in order to keep the car moving in a smooth movement.
To stay up to date with more safety tips for you car and health and safety issues generall, please sign up for our Keep Safe newsletter below. We will never pass on your email address.
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