Winter Driver Safety tips for staying safe on the road

Winter Driving - How to stay safe on the road

Road conditions can change drastically in the time between Winter and Spring. Weather can go from glorious sunshine to terrible storms, snow, and rainfall so it's crucial that you're prepared for every eventuality. Even more so if you've bought a second-hand car so I've put together a few winter driving tips to keep you safe whatever the weather

Winter Driver Safety Tips for all weathers

While forgetting your umbrella is completely harmless, forgetting your winter driving tips can be a lot more dangerous. The sun is shining but if the weather changes then so do the driving conditions. That can increase the dangers of driving in winter and a road traffic accident. 

For example, emergency breaking in rainy conditions is double and 10x in snow or ice. Driving in snow for the first time can drastically increase your stopping distance so it's crucial to be prepared

Top Winter Driver Safety Tips to be Prepared

There are some easy tips for making sure you're prepared for every eventuality no matter what the weather:

Car Emergency Kit

Have a car emergency kit in the car packed full of essential items to tide you over in case of a breakdown. An emergency kit should cover technical items such as jump leads, a spare tyre, a warning triangle, and spare car fuses for tasks you can probably complete yourself. It should also have further items such as a blanket, a torch, warm clothing, bottled water and emergency long-life snacks such as a granola bar in case it's going to take longer to fix during a breakdown. You can buy car emergency kits* but most can be put together independently. Make sure you have an atlas too, or solar chargers. Basically, anything you could need in case of a lack of technology during a breakdown.

Servicing

Servicing isn't a legal requirement in the UK but it's highly recommended for many reasons. Regular servicing can identify problems before they become more serious. Essential checks are carried out on critical aspects of your vehicle such as braking and suspension to ensure they won't let you down. Servicing improves the life span of your car and you can be safe in assuming your car is roadworthy and in tip-top shape. Kwik Fit car servicing* have you covered and will check the condition of all the important aspects of your car. Even when you should replace your tyres, giving you that peace of mind during your winter driving

Take Your Time

When driving in winter it's important you take your time. While speed limits on roads are typical, during severe weather such as a storm or snow, driving under the limit maybe advised. Getting to your destination safely and securely is way more important than getting their fast. Leave with extra time to reach your destination and drive more cautiously than usual.

Check the weather

Do you know what weather you're expecting? Sounds silly right? But check the weather before you set off, that way you're more likely to have the stuff you need than if you were caught by surprise

If you can avoid driving in bad weather then do it. The increase in accidents is astounding and I'm definitely not ashamed to admit that I still get public transport whenever there's snow. I'm so not about that life. If you're unsure about driving in the winter weather then don't for the safety of everyone

What's your top road safety tip for Winter driver safety?