Driving in icy or snowy conditions
- Remember it takes longer to stop in icy conditions than on a dry road. Drive slowly and allow extra room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.
- Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin.
- Manoeuvre gently, avoiding harsh breaking and acceleration.
- To brake on ice or snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently.
- Remember that heavy snow fall and rain reduce visibility. Use dipped headlights and reduce speed.
In the event of a minor skid do the following:
- If you start to skid, release the brake pedal fully and stay off the brake.
- Turn the steering wheel in the same direction as the skid and ease off the accelerator at the same time.
- Avoid over correction with too much steering.
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are advised to avoid making unnecessary journeys in extreme weather conditions. If a journey is unavoidable, be seen wearing bright clothing with reflective armbands or a reflective belt.
For further information, the following link to the RSA website is quite useful as it has very good safety tips for drivers and contains audio advice clips. The web site has safety tips on: winter driving, avoiding a slip or fall in snow and ice, driving in snow and ice, driving during a thaw, and driving in floods, or wet and windy conditions. It also has advice on how to act responsibly in snow and icy conditions, and advice for Pedestrians, Cyclists & Motorcyclists in snow and icy conditions. Click here......
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