How far north you are (in the northern hemisphere) tends to influence how severe your winters will be and, therefore, what precautions you need to take when driving. Remember, good drivers anticipate what could happen and adjust accordingly; average drivers only react to what is happening. As we’re coming into winter, now’s the time to start thinking about driving on snow.<\/p>\n
If you are new to driving, it\u2019s best to practice driving in snow during the day before you drive at night. There will be less chance of ice and frost on the road, and it\u2019s easier to spot potential hazards.<\/p>\n
In extreme temperatures your engine and the fuel in it can freeze. Keep your fuel reasonably well topped up in case you get stranded and need to keep the engine running to stay warm.<\/p>\n
Ensure your fluids are topped up and you are using antifreeze. You can try some vehicle maintenance and safety questions from the Highway Code here<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you notice your brakes pull to one side, this will be dangerous when it\u2019s slippery because it could cause you to spin.<\/p>\n Special snow tyres are available if you regularly experience prolonged snowfall, as well as snow chains for more extreme conditions. Check the tyre pressures regularly. Cold weather will reduce the pressure by about 1psi (pound per square inch) for every 5 degrees Celsius or 9 degrees Fahrenheit. While this technically means that more of the tyre is in contact with the road (which theoretically means more grip), if it\u2019s too low, it will negatively affect the vehicle\u2019s handling.<\/p>\n If your vehicle pulls to one direction under normal driving, or if you get a vibration at certain speeds, you need your wheels balancing and aligning.<\/p>\n If your windscreen is frozen, don\u2019t pour hot water on it as the sudden temperature change can cause it to crack. Instead, pour cold water on as this will still be enough to melt the ice, which you can then scrape off. If possible, cover your windscreen overnight to make clearing it quicker and easier.<\/p>\n Ensure that your rear demister and front windscreen heaters are in good working order as the temperature differential from inside to outside can cause your windows to fog up extremely quickly. Use your air conditioning to speed up the process.<\/p>\n Your windscreen should also be kept clean otherwise sun dazzle (sun strike) will be much worse.<\/p>\n Your external mirrors and lights may also ice over. Some vehicles have heated external mirrors.<\/p>\n It\u2019s best to warm up the vehicle before you drive away so that you can keep the windscreens clear.<\/p>\n At minimum you should carry a shovel for digging yourself out, a windscreen de-icer\/scraper, snow chains for extra grip, some warm clothes (including gloves), some drinking water (because melting snow isn’t convenient) and muesli bars in case you get stranded, sunglasses to combat the glare from snow and sun strike, and a tool kit.<\/p>\n Ideally, you will also want to carry the following:<\/p>\nTyres<\/h3>\n
Windscreen, windows and mirrors<\/h3>\n
What to carry<\/h2>\n
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Winter driving hazards<\/h2>\n