In the UK driving conditions can change in an instant, and understanding the right procedures to protect yourself and others on the road can mean a much safer journey.
Whether you are driving for pleasure or business, we’ve listed our top tips for driving in torrential rain, fog and snow to help keep you safe this winter.
Rain
Something the UK gets year round, but as we get closer to winter the country is more likely to become acceptable to heavy downpours and floods.
If it starts to rain whilst you’re on your journey, make sure you remember to turn on your headlights, wipers and demister to increase visibility. It might sound obvious, but how many people have you driven past, in the torrential rain, with no lights on?
Reduce your speed and distance from the vehicle in front of you, leaving plenty of stopping space. Try not to brake suddenly as this might cause you to spin, and can put vehicles around you in danger as well.
What do you do if you begin to hydroplane?
Sliding across surface water will mean you aren’t in complete control. Hold the steering wheel straight and remove your foot from the accelerator. This way it should limit the chances of losing control of your vehicle completely.
Snow
Always remove ice and snow from your windows – you might be in a rush, but making sure you can see really is worth being a few minutes late. We’ve all been there, but think about what could happen if your view isn’t as clear as it could be, especially as it’s not just your vehicle that is battling with the snow and icy conditions.
Again, you will need to allow around 3 – 12 times the amount of stopping distance than usual and avoid breaking suddenly.
What do you do if you’re stuck in the snow?
Straighten your wheels and accelerate at a slow pace.
Fog
We have already seen a lot of fog leading up to the winter months, with low clouds making visibility very poor. Take caution and make sure you slow down before you reach a patch of fog, switch on your fog lights and only use your low beams. You can also turn on your demister to increase visibility.
Although, the UK does have temperamental weather conditions sometimes, think yourselves lucky we don’t have to deal with tornadoes quite yet!
Source: Zywave – Safety Matters: Extreme Driving Conditions: Rain, Fog and Winter Weather
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