Like most drivers, I've had a few hairymoments recently as the temperatures dipped to freezing and storm Clodagh brought rain in torrents. This increasing frequency of extreme weather has shortly become the norm.
For this reason, it is important we drivers take extra precautions to ensure that wearrive at ourdestinations safely and in good time – particularly those of us who live in more rural areas. I am full of sympathy for North West who experienced a full monthof rainfall in tweleve hours.
In order to help combat the adverse weather Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council have organised for their gritting crews to cover over 348 miles – or 56% - of our local roads. However, it is important to remember that whilst Gritter trucks provide an essential service, they are unable to do every single road and to maximise their results they restricted to travel at around 40mph.
In the past 12 months, the HIghways Agency has recorded that a growing number of drivers have tried to undertake gritter trucks on the hard shoulder – sometimes with fatal consequences. To raise awareness of the danger of this, the Department for Transport, launched a new campaign to tackle this issue. This campaign works to advise drivers of the possible consequences of undertaking vehicles such as gritting trucks and advises them to only attempt to pass when it is safe to do so, avoiding using the hard shoulder and checking for hazards ahead.
In addition to this campaign, the Department for Transport is working alongside other organisations such as the ROSPA to promote careful driving, particularly at this time of year, and are offering driver’s advice on their web-site to make travel easier. This advice includes measures on making your car ‘winter ready and can be found in full here.
Top tips for safer journey’s Check the weather forecast before you set off. It is also work checking that:
- The Lights are clean and working.
- The Battery is fully charged.
- Your windscreen, wiper blades and other windows are clean and the washer bottle filled with screen wash.
- That your tyres are legal - including the spare.
- Check that the brakes are working well.
- Ensure that the vehicles fluids are kept topped up, especially windscreen wash (to the correct concentration to prevent it freezing), anti-freeze and oil.
It is worth keeping an emergency kit in your car – particularly if you’re going on long journeys. Take a moment to imagine yourself stranded in your car overnight, due to a snow storm or floods. What would you need? RoSPA recommends:
- A shovel
- Wellington boots
- A hazard warning triangle
- De-icing equipment
- First aid kit
- A working torch
- A car blanket
- Warm clothes
- Emergency Rations (inc hot drink in a flask)
- Mobile Phone (fully charged) & charger
Most of us have very little experience of driving in extreme conditions, such as snow - we might yet have a white Christmas! If you find yourself driving in snow or on icy or snow covered roads, be sure to adapt your driving style; remember to slow down before bends and corners, and take extra care driving in shaded areas – ice and frost can linger on these sections of the road.
For more information on how you can stay safe and be prepared for road journeys this winter please visit: think.direct.gov.uk or The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Stay safe everyone!