When you look out in the morning and see roads covered in snow and ice, especially when your journey is really necessary, even the most experienced driver’s heart can sink.
Knockhill’s Driver Training’s low friction facilities (at our Skid Pan and Brake and Avoid Lane) enable us to teach you all about icy conditions and help drivers of all abilities develop the skills needed to confidently cope with the worst that winter can throw at you.
Here is the top 10 tips as advised by the AA;
- TYRES: in ice or snow, you need at least 3mm of tread depth – check and, even if they’re legal (1.6mm), replace or consider fitting winter tyres
- BATTERY: modern cars use huge amounts of electrical power – especially in winter; check the battery is fully charged, consider using an intelligent charger to keep it topped up
- ANTIFREEZE: check your vehicle handbook for correct type and change intervals and make sure your cooling system won’t freeze or corrode
- EASIER STARTING: depress the clutch when starting – no drag from the gearbox reduces the load on the starter motor and the battery
- SCREENWASH: keep the washer bottle topped up; in freezing conditions use undiluted fluid. AVOID washing-up liquid and antifreeze. keep fluid and de-icer in the car to top up
- CLEANED AND OILED: wash the car regularly and keep the windows and lights clean so you can see and be seen; use water dispersant in the locks and petroleum jelly on the door seals so you can get in and out.
- FUEL: keep the tank topped up – you never know how long a journey may take
- DE-MIST: use the AC on a warm setting to demist the inside; clean the inside windows – with a glass cleaner – regularly: modern plastic dashboards can actually cause particles to stick to the inside of the windscreen!
- SUPPLIES: mobile phone, warm clothing, hi-viz tabard or jacket, good boots, shovel, tow rope, portable radio, energy foods, thermos of boiling water, torch, warning triangle, first-aid kit, stuff for kids to do, nappies and feeds for babies.
- DRIVING: take it easy; do everything gently – braking distances can be ten times longer than in ideal driving conditions, even four-wheel drive may not stop you going sideways on ice ro snow; stay tuned to local traffic news. In fog, lights on, radio muted, window slightly open and SLOW DOWN
The tips above have been taken from the AA’s Roadside Patrol of the Year 2011 winner Keith Miller’s advice to drivers (see http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/seasonal/patroloftheyear_wintertips.html for the full story) and RoSPA’s advice on winter driving.
If you want to learn from our experienced team of driving instructors, whether it is a Skid Pan course or an advanced on-road driver training session, check out our selection of courses on www.knockhill.com or phone 01383 720044. This winter, it may just save you an expensive accident repair bill, safe guard you insurance premiums or even save your life!