Driving tips for winter roads

Driving tips to keep you safe this Winter!

The weather has taken a turn for the worst, and with temperatures dropping below freezing  it’s time to make sure you’re driving as safely as possible. Follow these tips to stay safe this winter!

1. Take it Slow

Remember, when there is snow and ice on the road stopping distances can be 10 times longer. Slow and gentle manoeuvres are the key to keeping yourself and others on the road safe. Also, make sure you keep a good distance from cars in front to avoid accidents. 

2. Plan your Travel 

Plan your route ahead of time to make sure you’re not taking any unnecessary risks. Pick safe roads and have a look online to assess the traffic and avoid any accident spots.

3. Stay in control

Drive smoothly and avoid braking too abruptly or steering erratically, anything that could upset the balance of the car. Brake, accelerate, change gear and steer as smoothly as possible. This means keeping your feet on the pedals! Look ahead to anticipate obstacles and avoid having to slam on the brakes. The smoother you drive, the less likely you’ll be to lose control.

4. Fix faults ASAP

A car that isn’t up to scratch will dramatically increase your risk of breakdown or crashing, even more so in bad weather conditions. It’s important that you fix any faults as soon as they occur. Don’t ignore those fault lights on your dashboard, get it fixed before it causes a bigger problem.

5. Be Prepared!

Make sure you’re prepared for if things do go wrong. Dress warmly, have a full tank of fuel, keep your phone charged and let someone know where you’re heading to and when you should arrive. Read our guide to  what emergency essentials you should be keeping in your car! Things like extra warm clothing, food and water and a portable mobile phone charger will come in handy if you find yourself stranded in the snow! 

6. See and be seen

Do everything you can to make sure you have visibility and can be seen by other motorists. Before you set off on any journey clean your windscreens, clear snow from the roof to stop it falling while you’re driving, replace worn or damaged windscreen wipers and add antifreeze to your windscreen wash. Don’t forget to use your lights! Keep them clear and keep them on when visibility is low. 

7. Assess the risk

It is also useful to assess whether or not you actually need to make the trip. Ask yourself if: is the risk too high? In some circumstances, the safest thing you can do is postpone your journey until conditions have improved. 

At SERE we can help you make sure your car is in tip-top shape for the winter months. Book a service online today, call us on 02890205100 or just drop into our Belfast and Lisburn showrooms.