MOTORING
Winter road safety
Winter can be a challenging time of year when
out and about on foot, on a cycle or motorbike
and even in a car.
Road surfaces during the winter can be often
covered by frost, ice and sometimes even snow. In
foggy or wet weather visibility can be reduced. All
of these factors can make winter roads particularly
hazardous. Take a look at our top tips below if you
are a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist or driver this
winter.
Pedestrian top tips
• Be extremely careful as frost, ice and snow will
make walking on footpaths very dangerous.
• Make sure you are wearing appropriate footwear,
wear shoes or boots with appropriate traction.
• Don’t walk with your hands in your pockets, walk
with your hands out and wear gloves so you can
break your fall if you do slip.
• Visibility is reduced in snowy or freezing fog
conditions so wear high visibility clothing. Consider
carrying a torch.
• Stay warm, but don’t impair your vision with
scarves, hats, etc. This type of clothing could
prevent you from spotting icy conditions that may
lead to a fall.
• Ice can easily hide under a light dusting of snow.
Just because you don’t see the ice doesn’t mean it’s
not there waiting for your unsuspect ing footfalls.
• Try to avoid carrying things while walking in icy or
snowy conditions, as this can throw you off balance.
Cyclist top tips
• Wear a cycle helmet and make sure it is the correct
size and properly fitted.
• Use front and rear lights and reflectors after
sunset, before sunrise and in poor visibility. Check
they are working correctly and keep them clean.
• Be visible, wear high-visibility clothing or
accessories, or something white or bright.
• Have a good look around before starting,
stopping, turning left and right and also before
overtaking parked vehicles.
• Use your ears as well as your eyes - Do not use a
mobile phone or MP3/Ipod’s as they will distract
you; you need all your senses so you are aware of
everything around you.
• Never pass nearside between traffic and the
pavement especially close to junctions, particularly
with large vehicles where the driver may not have
noticed you in their wing mirrors.
• Don’t ride on the pavement, except where it is
designated as cycle path. Where this is the case,
moderate your speed and take care when passing
pedestrians and at junctions.
Driver top tips
• Plan your journey.
• Make sure you and your car are equipped for the
journey.
• Your lights, windows and mirrors should be
completely clear of ice or snow before you set off make sure they are fully de-misted as well.
• Heavy rain, snow or hail reduce visibility, use
dipped head lights and reduce your speed.
• Make sure you leave plenty of space between you
and the car in front - in wet weather stopping
distances will be at least double those required for
stopping on dry roads as your tyres have less grip
on the road.
• Winter and spring sunlight can present drivers
with an unexpected hazard. If you are blinded by
glare, reduce your speed.
• It can take ten times longer to stop in icy
conditions than on a dry road - drive slowly,
allowing extra room to slow down and stop.
Motorcyclist top tips
• Get the best kit you can and wear layers
underneath. Stay warm and dry and you'll
concentrate better.
• Winter roads are slippery. Good tyres give you the
grip you need.
• Assume any driver in a misted-up car, or peering
through a hand-wiped slit in the screen, can't see
you.
• Give your visor a gentle wipe with a clean, damp
cloth when you get home. Road salt's like
sandpaper.
• Winter means wet, soggy leaves - avoid them.
They're as slippery as ice.
• Watch the areas under bridges and in tree
shadows, even when the rest of the road is ice-free they're ice traps.
• Slippery roads mean longer stopping distances look, indicate and plan much further ahead.
Telephone: 07933 192280 • www.sheq-management-consultancy.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
48 Leek Life January/February 2014