Driving in Winter

The weather has finally turned colder and motorists will need to cope with ice, snow and salting vehicles. If you do need to drive, the Good Garage Scheme has a few tips to help get there safely.

Give yourself extra time
More time will be required to make sure all of your windows are cleared of frost, ice and snow.

Drive at a sensible speed
Rain, hail and snow all reduce visibility. A good rule of thumb is to travel at a speed that allows you to stop in the distance you're able to see ahead.

Use main roads
Avoid smaller roads that may be untreated. The shortest route may not always be safe.

Drive a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you
In icy conditions, you may need to allow up to ten times the normal distance for braking.

Take care around winter maintenance vehicles

Keep a safe distance behind salting vehicles and make sure you have plenty of screenwash to avoid a salt-smeared windscreen.

Always carry a charged mobile phone for emergencies and make sure your battery, lights and wipers are up to the challenges of winter.  Find a garage near you offering a Winter Check at http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/winter_check