Baby boomers the safest drivers in winter
All set to drive in treacherous winter road conditions? A new survey shows that many of us aren’t.
In fact the survey by insurer IAG has revealed that almost 75 per cent of motorists don’t carry additional survival items such as clothing and food, close to 62 per cent don’t check their car’s battery before the cold weather arrives, and 62 per cent don’t keep a small bottle of water in the boot to top-up the wiper fluid bottle if it runs out.
More than half of us don’t carry a set of jumper cables in the boot, almost half don’t bother to check radiator water levels, almost half don’t check the brakes when the wet and wintry weather arrives, and more than 40 per cent of us don’t carry emergency items such as a torch and first-aid kit in the vehicle.
The IAG Safety Meter Index is a series of regular and seasonal surveys commissioned by IAG, which trades in New Zealand under the AMI, State, Lumley and Lantern brands.
The purpose of the surveys is to increase customer awareness of how to be safer on the road and at home.
The latest survey has revealed that the so-called baby boomers – drivers aged 50 and 59 – are best prepared for driving in winter conditions, with nine out of 10 having checked the tread on their tyres in the last six months as they prepared for the colder weather.
The same number reported they store a spare tyre and jack in their boot, more than 80 per cent know how to change a tyre, and a vigilant 93 per cent said they had checked their windscreen wipers front and rear, and refilled their wiper fluid bottle in preparation for the winter.
AMI national technical specialist Chris Kiddey says the survey results show the need for older drivers to pass on their wisdom to younger motorists.
‘‘If your mindset is not prepared for winter driving, it could have a serious impact on driving safety,’’ he adds.