Winter Driving Tips
Brought to you by ESB Safe Driving Bureau
Before setting off on your journey ask yourself if the journey is absolutely essential.
- Check local and national weather forecasts.
- Clear your windows and mirrors of snow and ice before you set off !
- Tell someone what time you expect to arrive and the route you'll take.
- In severe weather, take warm clothes, boots, a torch and food e.g. chocolate/energy bar - it could be a long walk to a phone or a long wait until you're rescued.
- Keep your lights clean and the battery fully charged
- Add anti-freeze to the radiator and additive to the windscreen washer bottle, so the water doesn't freeze.
- Check tyre tread depth and pressure weekly.
- Hail, heavy snow and rain reduce visibility so use dipped headlights and reduce speed.
- Drive slowly; it can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions!
- Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin.
- Manoeuvre gently, avoid harsh braking and acceleration.
- To brake on snow and ice get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use your brake pedal gently.
- If you get into a skid - steer into the direction of the skid, ease off the accelerator and then brake gently.
- Fog drifts rapidly and is often patchy.
- Drive very slowly using dipped headlights.
- Use fog lights only where visibility is seriously reduced.
- Don't hang on to the tail lights of the vehicle in front and don't speed up suddenly.
- A dangerous manoeuvre in fog can be taking a right turn, crossing oncoming traffic. Before you cross the road flash your lights and sound your horn to alert oncoming traffic.
- If it's too low for the visor, it might be worth keeping a pair of sunglasses handy.
- Look out for potential skid traps e.g. wet leaves, shady spots, black ice and frost (particularly on bridges and under trees).
- Don't brake suddenly.
- Reduce acceleration but don't take your foot off the accelerator completely.
- Use the highest gears possible under the conditions, and as you gently brake, move down in your gears to come to a gradual halt.
- Avoid driving through floods, if possible, particularly with diesel engines, which will take in water via the air intake.
- Don't attempt to cross if water seems too deep - the deepest water is usually near the kerb.
- Drive slowly in first gear but keep the engine revs. high; this will prevent you from stalling.
- After driving through water remember to test your brakes. If you get into trouble, don't panic.
- Make yourself safe and warm and stay with your vehicle.
- If you have to leave your vehicle to get help, make sure you can be seen by other drivers.
