42 | DECEMBER 2017
Motoring
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
ARE YOU READY FOR WINTER?
Winter weather in the UK can be unpredictable. In recent years there has been flash flooding, heavy snow falls and
high winds. Equipping vehicles to cope with these conditions is vital to keeping employees’ safe whilst out on the road.
Recently published figures
from the Department of Transport
(DfT) reports 1,792 deaths were
recorded in road traffic accidents in
2016, up four per cent on the previ-
ous year and the most since 2011.
First and foremost, fleet man-
agers should ensure they have
a winter driving policy in place
that addresses how vehicles are
prepared for winter, what equip-
ment a driver should carry for
unexpected situations and what.
they should do in the event of an
emergency, such as an accident,
breakdown or getting caught up
in bad weather.
VEHICLE SAFETY
CHECKS
See clearly
• Improve vision significantly by
making sure that the wind-
screen is clean, inside and out.
Scratches, abrasions and chips
on the outside can also wors-
en the dazzling effect of the
sun. If your vision is obscured
through dirt, snow or even
sticker-infested car windows
you could face a hefty fine.
• Check windscreen wipers
regularly and replace when
damaged.
• Windscreen washer fluid
should be topped up and treat-
ed with a proprietary additive
to reduce the chance of freez-
ing in frosty weather. Don’t use
ordinary engine antifreeze as it
will damage paintwork.
• Use a good quality de-icer and
a proper scraper to clear glass,
always use a specially formu-
lated windscreen washer liquid
rather than soapy water.
• Be seen
• Check that all bulbs are work-
ing and that headlights are
clean and aimed correctly.
• Keep number plates clean. You
can be fined if they are dirty
and illegible.
Stay on track
• Tyres are one of the most
important components of a ve-
hicle. The tyre tread area mak-
ing contact with the road is
relatively small, only about the
size of the palm of your hand.
So, if your tyres are worn or
damaged it can seriously affect
your car’s safety and handling.
Not only that, if your tyres
don’t meet legal requirements,
you could face a fine. Tread
depth must be above the legal
minimum of 1.6mm through-
out a continuous strip in the
centre three quarters of the
tread and around the entire
tyre circumference.
• Check tyre tread depths and
tyre pressures on a regular
basis. Tyres should be inflat-
ed in accordance with the
vehicle manufacturer’s spec-
ification and you should not
be tempted to reduce tyre
pressure when there is snow
and ice around. It doesn’t
help with grip and can affect
the vehicle’s handling. Check
tyre pressures at least once a
month and when the tyres are
cold.
Winter Driving Tips
• Get up at least ten minutes ear-
ly to give time to prepare the
vehicle.
• Don’t drive off without the
windscreen being de-misted
and clear of ice. Ensure there
is good visibility out of all
windows.
• Remove snow from the car’s
bonnet and roof as this can
fall onto your windscreen
obscuring your view as well
as causing a hazard for other
drivers.
• Besides an ice scraper and
de-icer, carry a mobile phone
with fully charged battery and
an in-car charger, torch, first-
aid kit, tow rope, foil blanket,
warm coat, gloves and boots,
jump leads, shovel, warning
triangle, an old sack or rug
(to put under the wheels if
you do get stuck) and protein
snacks with a bottle of water.
• Plan your route to favour
major roads which are more
likely to have been cleared
and gritted.
• Always let someone know
where you are travelling to
and your expected arrival
time.
• Schedule journeys to allow
time for sufficient rest stops,
and take account of weather
and traffic conditions.
• Put safety before punctuality
when the bad weather closes
in, always allow extra time to
reach your destination.
• Remember stopping distances
are ten times longer in ice and
snow. Gentle manoeuvres are
the key to safe driving.
• Only drive through water if
you know that it’s not too
deep for your vehicle. Drive
slowly and steadily, allowing
oncoming traffic to pass first.
Test your brakes as soon
as you can a