Friday 17th December 2004

Insurers' winter wonderland worries

A list of things to do during inclement weather

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Motoring organisations such as insurers love dishing out advice at this time of year – one wonders what they do in countries that experience real winters, such as Sweden.

But nonetheless here, courtesy of a number of insurers, is an amalgam of Things To Do over winter:

• Your most important asset is good visibility. So check lights are clean and working properly. Check windscreen wipers work. Make sure you have clear all-round visibility before moving off and ensure the washer bottle is filled. Not only do clean windows make sense, but it is actually illegal to drive without good all-round visibility.
• Use credit cards as windscreen scrapers to scrape off all ice and snow (never use hot water!), make sure all the mirrors are clear and the defroster has cleared the insides of the windows.
• Watch for black ice. Driving on snow is dangerous, but at least you know it's there. Driving on ice is even more dangerous, not just because it can be more slippery, but mainly because you often can't see it. And the thicker it is, the harder it is to see.
• Black ice forms when running water or standing water freezes on the road. And it doesn't automatically disappear when the sun comes out it lingers in the shadows. Expect to find it on corners, bends and roundabouts that haven't been warmed by the sun and it won't take you by surprise when you do encounter it.
• Wear sunglasses when driving in snow. Some people think that it looks ridiculous but it makes absolute sense. Low winter sunshine reflecting off snow can be blinding, so keep a pair of anti-glare glasses in the car.
• Leave a little earlier than usual and factor in more time for the journey. It’s better to arrive late than not at all.
• Be patient: Drive at a speed that takes account of the road conditions and always leave a larger gap to the car in front.
• Anticipate: Increase braking distances so you don’t brake too sharply and risk skidding.
• Concentrate: pay extra attention to traffic movement and don’t get distracted by passengers, radio, phone etc.
• Be understanding: Consider other motorists and give them time and space if they are having problems with the weather or road conditions.
• Put Vaseline on your battery terminals
• Drive slowly in a high gear
• Carry a spade in the boot

[tvrman]

Carry a spade in the boot.......Makes you look like your about to dig a grave for someone.....

[havoc]

The way I drive around corners, if I carried a spade in the boot I'd soon be looking for some new interior trim...

[rob.e]

someinsurancebloke said:

Use credit cards as windscreen scrapers to scrape off all ice and snow

Credit cards? Would prefer to use my ice scraper thanks

[rsvmilly]

tvrman said:

Carry a spade in the boot.......Makes you look like your about to dig a grave for someone.....

.. and a bag of quick lime?

[sancho]

These tips are all common knowledge here in Canada, it's always snowing here. The only tip that makes no sense is the credit card for an ice scrapper, I don't know but I generally use an ice scrapper to scrape ice, it seems like what an ice scrapper is meant for.

[zebedee]

why 'never' use hot water?

[pdV6]

zebedee said:

why 'never' use hot water?

Too hot and you can crack the glass.
Even if not too hot, it simply re-freezes in your locks, door seals etc and leaves icy puddles on the road/driveway. Basically, if you're too lazy to scrape, at least use de-icer rather than water.