Prepare your vehicle
Get up at least 10 minutes early to give you time to prepare the car .
Clear all windows of snow and ice using de-icer and a scraper - do not set off with just a tiny hole cleared in the windscreen.
Check the roof for snow before you drive - it can slip down over the windscreen and obscure your view.
Use a cigarette lighter to warm a key for a frozen lock. Don't breathe on the lock, as the moisture will condense and freeze.
Besides an ice scraper and de-icer, it's worth carrying a mobile phone with fully charged battery, torch, first-aid kit, tow rope, blankets, warm coat and boots, jump leads, snow shovel, warning triangle, an old sack or rug and water repellent spray.
Plan routes to favour major roads which are more likely to have been gritted.
Put safety before punctuality when the bad weather closes in. While it's always a good idea to allow extra time in winter for your journey, drivers must accept the inevitability of being late for work if they are caught up in an unexpected delay.
Driving in snow and ice
If your tyres are making virtually no noise this could be a sign you're driving on ice.
If your vehicle skids, depress the clutch and turn the steering wheel into the direction of the skid. When the vehicle straightens steer along the road. Don't brake - it will just lock up your wheels and you'll skid further.
Stopping distances are ten times longer in ice and snow.
Gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving.
Reduce your risk of skidding by reducing your speed, too much power is often the source of problems in snow and ice.
Wear comfortable, dry shoes: cumbersome, snow-covered boots will slip on the pedals.
Select second gear when pulling away, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.
Try to maintain a constant speed, choosing the most suitable gear in advance to avoid having to change down while climbing a hill.
When driving downhill, choose third or fourth gear to prevent skidding.
Always apply brakes gently.
If you do get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels. Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip. Once on the move again, try not to stop until you reach firmer ground.
Driving an automatic
If you have an automatic, then under normal driving conditions (motorways, etc) it's best to select 'Drive' and let the gearbox do the work throughout the full gear range.
In slippery, snowy conditions you can make driving much safer by selecting '2', which limits the gear changes and also makes you less reliant on the brakes.
Many modern autos have a 'Winter' mode which locks out first gear to reduce the risk of wheel spin. Check the handbook if you're not sure."
Be safe!!
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