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I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to driving in the snow I'm afraid. It
is not something I'm proud of and I'm trying to become more confident. My fears
stemmed from a couple of bad snowfalls back in early 2003 and 2004. In the
first one, I was pregnant and my usual 45-minute commute took me 11 hours to
trawl. Then in January the following year, I had a four-month-old baby in the car
with me and again Hertfordshire was hit with snow and the roads gridlocked. It
took us 1.5 hours to travel under a mile and we pulled into a local hotel and
they took pity on us with our small baby and gave us a room for the night, I
still believe it was the most sensible option, thank goodness I always packed a
very good change bag for my baby JJ.
I find that if I take some practical steps before the really bad weather
comes then I feel happier and calmer about driving and that makes a big
difference. I'll share with you my tips for safer winter driving -
- Make sure that your car was
topped up with anti-freeze at your last service and if realistically you
know that you don't get your car serviced as often as you should then
check this and top up as necessary.
- Having moved to the countryside
I can't believe just how dirty my car gets in winter, so I'm having to wash my windscreen far more frequently. It is thus important to make sure
your screenwash is topped up and also that the product you are using can
cope with freezing weather.
- I'd also say treat your
wipers kindly, don't expect them to try to clear ice, you may damage the
blade and also blow the mechanism as you try to make it work too hard.
- Previously I wondered if
winter tyres were just a ploy for garages to make money but having spent a
week in Belarus last year in the deep snow I now realise they really do
make a difference. So if you can afford to change your tyres and have the
room to store your spare set this is great for peace of mind.
- If you choose not to change
your tyres then just keep an eye on the depth of your tread and also make
sure they are properly inflated as this will give you the best chance of
gripping a snowy or icy road.
- Before travel, especially in
the morning allow yourself time to get your car ready, it does take a
while to de-ice the car. Remember to do all glass, mirrors and
lights so so you can see and are visible to other drivers. Never ever use
boiling water to de-ice windows like my old neighbour used to, the risk of
the glass cracking is high.
- You can buy winter car kits
to keep in your boot or easily make your own up. It is a good idea to have
a spade/ snow shovel, wellies, blanket, drinking water and high energy/
long life snacks, first-aid kit, torch and de-icer with scraper.
- If you don't have the knowledge
to be able to fix your car yourself then make sure you have adequate breakdown cover. Currently, I'm fully
covered with the AA and I've used the call out service quite a number of
times in the years I have been a member. I'll happily recommend the AA as
they have arrived quickly, been able to fix my car, give great advice and
even entertained my kids!
- Then most importantly
remember that if you are driving on a road covered in ice or snow it will
take far longer to brake safely; the stopping distance can be up to ten
times the normal. You will to slow right down and steer and break gently,
especially at bends in the road. Make sure you apply your breaks lightly
and use your gears to slow down and avoid skidding. Then for me it always
seems counter-intuitive but you should use the highest gear possible at a
low speed when driving in icy conditions as this will help avoid quick
acceleration and wheel spin.
Don't forget if the weather looks really bad outside check the news or
the met office website before you travel and if you can stay off the roads and
don't put yourself at risk.