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Respect the winter elements
With the British weather being very unpredictable the onset of winter can be quick with snow and freezing nights catching large numbers of people unaware. |
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Winter driving can be more stressful on cars and drivers a like, with heavy rain, snow and ice making each journey more difficult and potentially extremely dangerous to you and other road users.
Here are a few tips to try and keep you safe on the roads of Shropshire during the winter period.
Only take trips and journeys that are necessary… but if you need to go:
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Plan your trip
If possible tell others your route and timings including departure and expected arrival.
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Use a windscreen scraper or de-icing spray
Make sure all the windows are clear, not just the front windscreen |
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Never use boiled water from a kettle
Using bolied water can crack the glass |
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Demist the whole area of the windows not just a small area
You need to see the whole picture |
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Check your vehicle
View list here of items to check
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| During your journey |
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Where you can, use the main roadways and routes.
They are more likely to have been gritted. If you do break down, it is easier for the emergency services and recovery to locate you. |
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Use your headlights in heavy rain or snow.
It is easier to see and be seen by other users. |
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Fog lights are helpful to other road users should visibility be poor (less than 100 meters)
But remember to turn them off when visibility improves. They can dazzle other users following you. |
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If your journey is likely to be long, take some high energy food and drink, such as chocolate and boiled sweets.
But remember to pull over to eat and drink them. It can be distracting trying to eat and drive. A thermos flask of hot drink / soup could also be beneficial |
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If you are taking young children or babies remember their food and drinks too. |
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Take a mobile phone with you, for contact.
Remember to pull over and park safely before using it! |
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Take extra warm clothing, blankets for all, water proof clothing and suitable footwear. |
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Keep your fuel tank topped up. You don’t know when you could fill up again. |
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If you are on medication - take it with you. |
A list of extra items and accessories that might come in useful if your trip is likely to be long.
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Heavy duty jump leads including the instructions.
Improper use can seriously damage the car and cause injury to you. |
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A good tow rope.
To be used in emergencies only, it is no substitute for a rigid tow from a recovery service.
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A spare full fuel can |
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A good ice scrapper and de icing spray |
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A full First Aid kit.
Only to be used if you are a competent trained First Aider |
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A torch with extra batteries |
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Extra light bulbs and fuses |
Before setting out on any trip in the winter it is advisable to check your vehicle to make sure it is up to the trip.
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A professional winter service would be a great start |
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Check the condition of your battery and the connection terminals |
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Check ALL your lights front and rear are working and clean. You may need someone to help you check the rear, if no-one is available use a reflective back drop or wall |
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Check the condition of the front and rear wipers. You need to be able to see where your going! |
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Make sure your window washer bottle is full with water and screen wash - Increase the concentration for the winter months |
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Check the anti-freeze in the engine coolant system |
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Check your tyres including the spare.
The MINIMUM depth is 1.6mm. In heavy snow, rain and ice the more grip you have the better |
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Familiarise yourself with the wheel brace and jack, make sure you can remember how to use them |
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Replace the battery in the remote control car key if you are having to get closer to the car to open the doors or disable the alarm |
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| Adjust your driving to the conditions |
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Hail, heavy snow and rain reduce visibility |
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Use dipped headlights and reduce your speed |
| When roads are icy or slushy |
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It can take ten times longer to stop in icy conditions than on a dry road. Drive slowly, allowing extra room to slow down and stop |
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Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin |
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Manoeuvre gently, avoiding harsh braking and acceleration |
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To brake on ice or snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently |
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If you start to skid, ease off the accelerator but do not brake suddenly |
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Watch out for fog - it drifts rapidly and is often patchy |
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In foggy conditions, drive very slowly using dipped headlights |
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Use fog-lights if visibility is seriously reduced, but remember to switch them off when visibility improves |
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Do not hang on to the tail-lights of the vehicle in front. This gives you a false sense of security and means you may be driving too close |
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Do not speed up suddenly, even if it seems to be clearing. You can suddenly find yourself back in thick fog |
Dazzle from winter sun can be dangerous. Keep a pair of sunglasses handy.
In wet weather, stopping distances will be at least double those required for stopping on dry roads. This is because your tyres have less grip on the road.
In wet weather:
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You should keep well back from the vehicle in front. This will increase your ability to see and plan ahead |
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If steering becomes unresponsive, it probably means the water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road. Ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually |
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The rain and spray from vehicles may make it difficult to see and be seen |
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Do not attempt to cross if the water seems too deep |
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Drive slowly in first gear but keep the engine speed high by slipping the clutch - this will stop you from stalling |
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Avoid the deepest water, usually near the kerb |
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Remember - test your brakes when you are through the flood before you drive at normal speed |
Firefighters rescued this car after the driver got stuck in flooded waters on one of Shropshire's country roads
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| Take care around winter maintenance vehicles |
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The Highways Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Transport, is responsible for the motorways and trunk roads in England. They aim to reduce delays and accidents during wintry weather conditions by pre-treating clearing motorways and trunk roads to prevent the formation of ice and snow, and by clearing snow from carriageways and hard shoulders as soon as conditions permit. Local Authorities are responsible for this work on the local road network.
| Salting and snow ploughing |
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Take care when travelling behind winter service vehicles. Drivers of vehicles such as salt spreaders and snowploughs take all reasonable precautions to protect the safety of other road users.
Salting vehicles travel at speeds of up to 40 mph spreading salt across all lanes of the carriageway. Drivers are advised to maintain a safe distance behind them. Do not attempt to overtake.
Snow ploughing can throw up irregular amounts of snow that may be a hazard to vehicles. Drivers are advised to maintain a safe distance behind vehicles and not to attempt to overtake.
| Roadworks on motorways and major roads |
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The Highways Agency will be working on a number of major maintenance schemes and improvements on motorways and trunk roads in England over the winter months and drivers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly.
If you have to drive through roadworks, please take extra care.
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Keep to the speed limit - it is there for your safety |
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Get into the correct lane in good time - don't keep switching |
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Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks |
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Be alert for works traffic leaving or entering roadworks |
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Keep a safe distance - there could be queues in front |
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Observe all signs - they are there to help you |
Remember: Respect the elements
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