Winter Driving Tips from Hometyre Newcastle
Before you go! Start early; it’s going to take you a lot longer to hit the road!
First problem is your key won’t fit in the frozen lock; the best way is to heat the key with a lighter. Obviously keep the flame away from the plastic bit.
I know it’s tempting to pour a kettle of hot water over the windscreen. But your windscreen can crack and when you come home you’ve created an ice rink right where you want to park!
It makes sense to have a winter driving kit in the car, include things like:
- Torch, wind up ones are great as there’s no battery to go flat, just when you finally need it.
- Snacks and drinks
- Hat and gloves
- Screen wash
- Wellies or similar
- Mobile phone charger
- A nice warm blanket
- Shovel
- Old towel, carpet or rags
Someone once said to me “it’s better to be late in this world than early in the next” that’s always true, but especially in bad conditions. Is that meeting really so important?
It might be a longer route to normal, but try to stick to main roads or bus routes as they’re more likely to have had the gritters out.
Getting around on snow or ice
The first thing to keep in your mind is ‘its going to take ages to stop’ up to 10 times the normal distance!
Avoid harsh acceleration, braking or abrupt steering
Move off in the highest gear possible, never use 1st. Slip the clutch to limit the power going to the wheels.
Try to always move off with your wheels pointing straight ahead.
If really necessary use the old towel, carpet or rags you’ve cunningly put in your winter driving kit. Put them down in front of the drive wheels and leave them once your going!
If you’re going downhill, you don’t want to have to brake. So go down in a low gear, perhaps event first gear. Aim to stop several metres before you need to. If you’re going to skid it’s better to do it before the junction.
Going uphill, select a low gear that will get you all the way up without having to change up or down through the gears. Hang back if there’s traffic in front, you want a clear run. It’s a constant speed that you’re after.
Think about fitting winter tyres. Winter tyres will stop your 11mtrs quicker than summer tyres on icy or snowy roads.
That’s one heck of a lot of road you don’t need, it’s no fun skidding towards the car in front or a lamppost.
For more information about winter tyres visit us at www.hometyre.co.uk or ring 0800 783 93 10
Address: 4 Robson Drive, Hexham, NE46 2HZ
Tel: 07980 738720
Website: www.hometyre.co.uk
Twitter: @hometyre_NE
Post By: Hometyre NE
Post Date: 13/10/11
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