Winter Driving Tips

Be prepared for this winter…

With winter fast approaching here are some general tips for safe and trouble free motoring throughout the winter months.

Battery and Electrics:
. Avoid running electrical systems any longer than is necessary – turn heaters down and turn off the heated rear window as soon as it has defrosted.
. Turn off all non - essential electrics like lights, rear screen heater and wipers before trying to start the car.
. If car has been idle for most of the weekend a regular overnight trickle charge is a good idea to give the battery a chance to revive.
. Use the starter in short 5 second bursts if the engine doesn’t start quickly. Leave thirty seconds between attempts to allow the battery to recover.

Frozen Locks/Wipers:
. Use luke warm water (not hot) or de-icer to defrost a frozen lock/handle.
. To de-ice door seals once car is unlocked use luke warm water around the door edge. To avoid this happening again use silicon polish on a cloth and wipe around the door seals.
. If wipers are frozen DO NOT turn them on, make sure all auto wiper controls are turned off before turning ignition on as this could blow the wiper control fuse. Use luke warm water to wash away ice and clear windscreen.
. If washers are frozen, again avoid using them, as this could blow protection fuse. Use luke warm water to wash away ice and clear windscreen. Use a bottle of water where convenient to clear windscreen and maintain forward vision.

Driving:
. When pulling away it is important to accelerate very gently, use low revs and change to a higher gear as soon as possible. It may be necessary to pull off in second gear as this will help reduce wheel slip.
. When on the move be sure to take extra care while driving to prevent skidding and watch out for black ice.
. When driving up hill try to avoid having to stop part way up by waiting until it is clear of other cars or by leaving plenty of room between you and the car in front. Keep a constant speed , choosing the most suitable gear well in advance to avoid having to change down on the hill.
. When travelling down hill reduce your speed before the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid using the breaks. Leave as much room as possible between you and the car in front.
. If you do have to use the breaks, apply them gently. Release the brakes and de-clutch if the car skids.

Tyres:
. The recommended tread for winter motoring is 3mm and certainly no less than 2mm.
. Do not reduce tyre pressure to increase grip – This does not work and reduces stability.
. Consider changing to winter tyres which have higher silica content in the tread which prevents them hardening at lower temperatures, and therefore gives better grip in cold wet conditions.
. It is rare for snow chains to be needed unless you live in an isolated area hit with heavy snow and where the roads are not cleared. They must be removed before driving on a metalled road with a reasonable covering of snow.

Antifreeze:
. A loud squealing noise when the engine is started is a sign that the water pump is frozen. Stop the engine immediately and allow it to thaw out (which may take several days unless placed in a heated garage).
 . If the car begins to over heat a few miles from home it could be a sign that the radiator has frozen which prevents coolant from circulating. Stop straight away to avoid serious damage and allow to thaw.
. You will need a 50 – 50 mix of antifreeze and water in the cooling system for winter. This will give you maximum protection down to -34c, without it, severe engine damage costing hundreds of pounds can occur.

General:
. Before you go, get up at least 10 minutes early to give you time to prepare the car.
. Plan your routes to favour major roads which are more likely to have been cleared and gritted.
. Makes sure all ice and snow is cleared off the car before setting off. Make sure the windscreen is completely cleared off (both front and back)
. Make sure all bulbs are working and that the lenses are clean. You may have to clean the lenses regularly and ensure that the number plates are cleaned and fully visible.
. Use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced. You can use both front and rear fog lights when necessary but ensure that they are turned off when visibility improves as they can dazzle other road users and obscure your break lights.