Winter Driving
Be careful in Winter Weather
We all love talking about the weather in Britain. As anyone will know we have some of the most varied and unpredictable weather conditions in the world. That can make for some pretty dangerous conditions especially on the road.
Winter can be especially hazardous. In recent years the UK had been having increasingly mild winters with snow a rarity, however the last couple of years has seen us have to deal with some significant cold weather events when conditions have posed a real danger to all road users.
So when severe weather hits, the best advice is to stay off the road. If you must drive it is important to be ready for problems and know what to do.
What to do before winter
It is always better, and cheaper, to stop problems before they happen. Before winter comes, there are things you can do now to get ready for bad weather.
Anti-freeze: add anti-freeze to the radiator of your car. Also, to help keep your windscreen clean, add winter additive to the windscreen wash.- Battery: keep your battery fully charged.
- Service: make sure your car has had a service and is well maintained.
- Lights: make sure that all lights are working.
- Tyres: your tyres should have the correct amount of air in them, and have plenty of tread depth. The legal minimum is 1.6mm but it is recommended that tyres are changed before tread gets that low.
- Wipers: change the blades on your windscreen wipers if they are worn. It is recommended that they are changed every 12 months and just before winter arrives is an ideal time.
- Windows: before driving clear your windows and mirrors so that you have maximum visibility. Do not be tempted to clear a small area on the windscreen and hope that the rest clears once you get going.
- Emergency kit: keep this in the back of your car.
Emergency Kit
Before you set off, you should ask yourself whether your journey is absolutely necessary. If it is, check the weather forecast and traffic conditions before you leave. This information is now more up-to-date and reliable than ever before and the internet and local radio stations have made it easily accessible.
Suggested Emergency Kit Contents
- Ice scraper and de-icer
- Torch and batteries
- Warm clothes and blanket
- Food and drink
- Boots
- First-aid kit
- Battery jump leads
- Small spade
Fuel
Also it is a good idea to have plenty of fuel in the tank when the weather is bad. Should you get stuck in cold conditions and need to stay with your vehicle then being able to run the engine is a good source of warmth.
Gritting
Northamptonshire County Council and their partner MGWSP are responsible for gritting and snow clearance of the local road network. The Highways Agency are responsible for the trunk road network and motorways.
Not all roads are gritted. It costs the County Council around £32,000 for just one precuationary salting. Roads are gritted according to a number of conditions including their hierarchy, if they are a key public transport route and the length of the weather event. That means you should never assume a road has been gritted.
The leaflet below gives more detailed information on winter driving in Northamptonshire. Paper copies can be requested by emailing info@mgwsp.co.uk
