The best preparation you can give your vehicle for driving in the winter is a full service.

Some people don’t bother with this, and if you are a courier company like us you will be servicing your vehicles every 6-8 weeks anyway. It’s so easy to forget the things like anti freeze when you do it yourself, but that can make a big difference when the temperatures drop!

If you do a lot of driving in the winter here are some things you should be prepared for.

1. You can get stuck in snow or mud very easily.

First try and gently ‘unstick’ the vehicle with a gentle back and forth motion. If this doesn’t work a shovelful of grit / dirt /salt under the tyres may help add some traction. If that doesn’t work, try the rubber floor mats underneath the tyres (the mats that are in your foot wells fit perfectly).

2. When driving through water or ‘fording’ flooded country lanes check your brakes after. Don’t forget to check the ‘cat’ as well.

Make sure that your brakes are working correctly by testing them slowly when you have exited the water. Do not drive through water that comes above the halfway point of your wheels. When driving through the flooded section drive slowly in first or second gear and DO NOT drive fast enough to create a wave! If your vehicle has a ‘cat’ check them after as well, the ‘cat’ (catalytic converter) operates at high temperatures and this means when it comes into contact with ice cold water, it could crack. That’s a very expensive item to get replaced.

3. Take Extra care when driving up hills that have snow on them

Leave plenty of space for the person in front before you start your journey up hill. This isn’t the time to be driving fast and tailgating people. If you find you are starting to slip, some drivers find it helpful to zigzag across the road (this is where the plenty of space is useful).

Remember, just because you drove through a snowfall or a storm once or twice a year, it doesn’t make you infallible. Driving conditions can turn the safest of drivers into a wreck, literally.

Drive safely

Kevin

Related articles

• New York Injury Lawyer Recommends Preventative Maintenance On Your Car This Winter (zifflaw.com)
• What’s Better In Winter Weather, AWD Or Snow Tires? [Question Of The Day] (jalopnik.com)
• Smarter driving tips that can save £250 in fuel bills (telegraph.co.uk)
• Why Fixed Gear Bikes Are Better On Ice (kentsbike.blogspot.com)
• Winter tires: helping your car get a grip (cbc.ca)

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