A guide to hazardous Driving Conditions

An icy road or unexpected snowfall shouldn’t mean slipping, skidding and stalling.

The challenges of winter driving can be split into two key elements: reduced traction and reduced visibility. This guide offers simple, practical advice on preparing your vehicle and adapting your driving to account for these changes.

Good preparation and sound knowledge of how the weather can affect conditions means you and your passengers can travel safely and confidently in adverse weather.

Vehicle Preparation
 Towards the end of autumn, it’s a good idea to give your vehicle a pre-winter check, whether you do this yourself or have a mechanic do it for you. The winter months are harsh on any vehicle, let alone a 4×4 that is potentially going to be used in extreme conditions.

Things to look out for are:-

1 Tyres. For winter driving you should have at least 3mm of tread, any less will mean reduced grip. Ensure tyres are inflated to the appropriate level for your vehicle\tyre, tyres should not be under or over inflated as this can adversely affect grip and stability.

2 Fluid levels. Check your anti-freeze is topped-up and has sufficient protection to prevent freezing, protection to -20⁰c is not unreasonable. You should check other fluids such as oil, brake fluid and power steering fluid as well.

3 Brakes. These should be checked to ensure that you have adequate wear left and that the handbrake is able to hold a laden vehicle on a hill.

4 Transmission. If you’ve not used your 4×4 system in a while, it is worthwhile ensuring that this is working as they can seize up. Ensure you can move from high-low range and back, also check that any diff locks are working and that moving from 2wd to 4wd also works.

5 Lights. Ensure all of your lights are working. Not only is this a legal requirement, but it can make the difference between being seen and safe, or not seen and involved in a collision.

6 Wipers. Worn wipers can cause rubbing or smearing which will limit your visibility. Replace worn wipers (as a volunteer you are eligible for a discount at Halfords which can save up to 50% on some products).

7 Windscreen. Inspect the windscreen for any damage, chips or cracks and have them repaired or replaced. These can quickly become cracks which can then cause the glass to shatter.

Winter Driving Checklist
Before setting out on any journey in winter, it is worth making sure you have a few essentials. Some of the things you should carry are:-

  • Your issued PPE – fleece, hi-vis jacket, hi-vis waterproof trousers, gloves, hat
  • Heavy-duty jump leads
  • Tow-rope, strap\shackles
  • Torch, with spare batteries
  • Spare light bulbs and fuses
  • De-icer, scraper
  • Shovel
  • Waterproof wellies\boots
  • Sunglasses
  • Warm Blanket
  • High energy food and drink
  • Traction aids

Visibility
Before setting off, ensure all of your windows are clear of snow and ice, it is illegal to drive with an obstructed view. Ensure snow is removed from the roof and bonnet of the vehicle as this can also affect visibility, especially if snow falls from the roof onto the windscreen as you brake. Don’t use warm water as this can cause any weakness in glass to crack.

Before turning on your ignition, make sure you switch off automatic wipers, if they are stuck to the window this may cause damage to the wiper blade or blow a fuse. Unless parked they will still move when ignition is turned on. They need to be freed from the windscreen first.

Avoid putting the heater in re-circulation mode as this increases the humidity inside the car.

When driving in snow or poor visibility, dipped headlights should be used. It is worth noting that if you have auto headlights, they may not come on in all situations so you should switch lights on manually. The sensors may also be affected by conditions.

Ensure you have a good quality screenwash and that the reservoir is full. You should have a concentration of wash that is good to temperatures of -20⁰c.

Traction and Braking
When driving in snow or ice, use steady momentum to carry you through. If the wheels start to spin or slide, ease off the accelerator until you feel the tyres regain grip, it’s important to keep the wheels rolling.

Harsh braking may cause you to skid, so use progressive braking by gently pressing the brake to start with and then gradually increasing the pedal pressure.

Looking as far ahead as you can, anticipate what manoeuvres you may need to make and adjust the controls as necessary before reaching the hazard, ie junction, corner etc. On corners, brake before you approach and steer through the corner at a safe speed, once you have straightened up you can regain power with gentle acceleration. Do not steer while braking or accelerating and vice versa.

Remember, in snow and ice stopping distance is increased by at least 10 times!

Snow and Ice

  • when moving off, accelerate gently and move to a higher gear as soon as you can. If the road surface is packed ice, try moving off in a higher gear
  • on untreated roads, be aware that the tracks from other vehicles will be icier and more slippy than fresh snow
  • keep your speed down and allow in excess of 10 times the normal stopping distance
  • if you do skid, keep your hand on the steering wheel, avoid hard braking and steer into the skid, ie if the rear of your car is sliding left, steer left
  • if you get stuck, straighten the steering wheel, get out of the car and clear the snow away from your wheels. If you have any traction aids, try using them to give the tyres more purchase
  • remember that in frosty weather bridges and overpasses ice over more quickly, areas shadowed by trees can also cause unexpected icy spots
  • black ice is usually invisible, be aware of tyre noise as silent or quiet tyre noise may indicate black ice. Reduce your power and if you don’t need to make the journey, then don’t

Fog

  • make sure headlights, and fog lights (front and rear), are clean and working properly before you drive. The Highway Code states that fog lights must be used when visibility is less than 100 metres
  • use the two-second rule for leaving a gap between you and the vehicle in front. Don’t rely on their tail lights of the car in front for navigation as you may un-intentionally end up much closer than you intended
  • if visibility is very poor, lower your windows at junctions or crossroads and listen for any approaching traffic

Floods
Safe driving should always be your priority, and, as a general rule you should always avoid driving in water. However, given the nature of our undertakings, this may be unavoidable. Follow these steps to ensure your safe passage through water.

  • know your vehicles wading depth
  • try and assess the depth of the water. If it’s shallow then explore on foot if you feel confident to do so, if not do not attempt to cross. It’s useful to have a good pair of wellies in the vehicle for this. Another useful tool is a long stick to gauge the depth.
  • if there are other vehicles, wait until they’ve left the water. Unsettled water can make a safe passage more challenging.
  • enter the water slowly and build up momentum. Do not slip or ride the clutch as this reduces control of the vehicle. Ease off the accelerator as you reach the other side of the water.

Do not underestimate the power of water, if in doubt do not attempt to drive through water