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Our Guide To Driving Safely This Winter
08 Jan 2024
With an icy spell coming to the UK this week, take a look at our guide to driving safely this winter. We cover keeping yourself safe whilst driving and keeping your car prepared for winter.
Plan your journey
It’s easy to quickly check an estimated journey time on your phone, hop in your car, and just set off, but when weather conditions are poor and the roads are unusually busy, it’s important to do a little more planning.
We would recommend starting by checking for any weather warnings and hazards along your route, this way you can avoid any nasty surprises, but more importantly assess the risks of your journey. When it comes to planning your journey time, make sure to schedule some time for breaks along the way, even if it’s just a few minutes to stretch your legs and grab a coffee, these small breaks help maintain concentration and reduce tiredness.
We would suggest allowing extra time to account for slower traffic, this way you don’t feel rushed to reach your destination, which often leads to dangerous driving.
Preparing your car
When it comes to preparing your car for winter driving, it's important to think about:
- Looking after yourself – The essentials to keep you comfortable
- Looking after the car – Your vehicle checks and needs
- Your ‘just in case items’
Visibility is key
Visibility on the roads during the winter is particularly poor with shorter days, fog, snow, sleet, and all the other elements to contend with, so it couldn’t be more important to take all the steps to ensure that your car is easily visible for other drivers and pedestrians around you.
Start by making sure that all the car lights are working, and the lenses are clean, with mucky roads you may have to clean your lights up to get the best out of them. It’s also important to use your headlights correctly! Make sure to use them when visibility is reduced, and remember to switch off your fog lights when other drivers are around.
Leave a gap
Driving with a safe gap between you and other drivers applies all year round, but more caution needs to be taken if you’re driving in adverse conditions this winter. Low visibility, bad weather, and poor road conditions all come together to drastically affect your braking distance, so it’s important to leave that extra space just in case you need it.
Have you got Breakdown Cover?
Having that peace of mind when setting off on a long journey allows you to relax in the knowledge that if something does go wrong, you can benefit from a roadside service that will either fix your car or get you home safely!
At Tangelo, we offer 12 months of complimentary RAC Breakdown Cover with every single car we sell. The RAC aim to arrive within 30 minutes of your call and offer a 24/7 service, ensuring that wherever you are in the UK, help is within reach.