Snow PROBLEM!

Ice and snow can make venturing out in the snow feel daunting, but with a little preparation and know-how you can stay safe on the roads whatever the conditions

BEFORE YOU SET OFF

✔ MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WARM CLOTHES, walking shoes and a working mobile phone in the car, plus an in-car phone charger. ✔ CHECK YOUR WIPERS – make sure they’re not worn and are free of dirt. Ensure you have plenty of anti-freeze screen wash in the reservoir. ✔ CHECK THE ANTI-FREEZE AND COOLANT LEVELS in your radiator. If you haven’t had the anti-freeze changed or topped up in the last two years get your local garage to check the levels.

✔ CHECK YOUR TYRE TREAD by inserting a 20p coin into the lowest tread depth of your tyre. If the outer band of the 20p coin is obscured when it is inserted, then your tread is above the legal limit. If not, get it checked by a professional.

ON THE ROAD

✔ IF YOUR CAR SKIDS, steer gently into it – for example, if the rear of the car is sliding to the right, steer to the right. Do not take your hands off the steering wheel or stamp your foot on the brake.

✔ WHEN APPROACHING A BEND, brake before you start to turn the steering wheel. If your car loses grip try not to panic; the key thing is to take your foot off the accelerator and make sure that your wheels are pointing in the direction you want to go in.

✔ DON’T USE CRUISE CONTROL when driving on any slippery surfaces such as wet roads or ice.

✔ DON’T TRY TO POWER UP HILLS. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to pick up a little speed before you reach the hill and let that carry you to the top. As you reach the top of the hill reduce your speed and put the car in a low gear and go down the hill as slowly as possible. ✔ IN SNOW IT HELPS TO MOVE OFF IN SECOND GEAR as this will help reduce wheel slip.

✔IF THE ROAD HAS NOT BEEN GRITTED, avoid driving in the wheel tracks of other vehicles as compressed snow is likely to be more icy than fresh snow.