Stay safe on the winter roads!

Following on from Road Safety Week last week, and with the current wintery weather upon us, it is important that we are all up to speed (pardon the pun!) on driving in this weather! For those of you that haven’t checked your tyre tread yet then here’s a safety fact to get you thinking - At 1.6 millimetres(the legal minimum) in wet weather it takes an extra car length (8 metres) to stop at 50 mph than if your tread was 3 millimetres.(the recommended minimum) Gets you thinking doesn’t it!

So here’s some tips to get travelling as safely as possible if you absolutely have to travel!!

Preparing to travel

• Get up at least 30 minutes early to give you time to prepare the car.

• You are not a tank driver, do not drive with just a small area of the window cleared! Clear all windows of snow and ice using a de-icer and a scraper

• Use a cigarette lighter to warm a key for a frozen lock. Don't breathe on the lock, the moisture will just condense and freeze!

• Besides an ice scraper and de-icer, it's worth carrying a mobile phone with fully charged battery, torch, first-aid kit, tow rope, blankets, warm coat and boots, jump leads, snow shovel, warning triangle, an old sack or rug (to put under the wheels if you do get stuck) and Sunglasses, yes sunglasses, the glare from the snow can be dazzling!

• Plan routes using major roads which are more likely to have been gritted.

• Put safety before punctuality when the bad weather closes in. While it's always a good idea to allow extra time in winter for your journey, you must accept that you may be late, make the phone call before you leave to alert people that this may be the case and remove that stress before you start!

Driving in snow and ice

• REMEMBER Stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice and snow.

• Gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving.

• Wear comfortable, dry shoes: chunky, snow-covered boots will slip on the pedals.

• Select second gear when pulling away, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.

• When climbing a hill it's important to avoid having to stop on the hill. Try to maintain a constant speed, choosing the most suitable gear well in advance to avoid having to change down on the hill.

• When driving downhill, reduce your speed before the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid using the brakes. Leave as much room as possible between you and the car in front.

• Always apply brakes gently. Release them and de-clutch if the car skids.

• If you do get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels. Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip. Once on the move again, try not to stop until you reach firmer ground.

Remember it is better to arrive safe and late than to not arrive at all!

Posted by Kate Sutherland on 01 December 2010 in : KDS Training, Kidd's Distribution Services - KDS Distribution, Road Safety, Training employability

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