JANUARY 2019 | 35
Motoring
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
Almost
14 million
drivers would
‘brake test’
a tailgater
GIVE JACK FROST THE COLD
SHOULDER WITH DRIVING TIPS
With white frosty mornings also comes icy roads … that’s why Richard
New research reveals Gladman from IAM RoadSmart has put together some advice on how
that tailgating is not to deal with driving and riding on ice - and keep Jack Frost at bay.
only one of the most
possible cover the glass overnight
Only drive if it is really nec-
with cardboard or an old sheet
annoying habits
essary. In very bad weather it is
to prevent freezing or invest in a
drivers experience
better to stay in or take public
windscreen cover.
transport
rather
than
risk
an
ac-
If you haven’t done so already,
on the road, it
cident. Always check the weather
get an anti-freeze check at your
causes many
and road conditions on your route
local garage or fast-fit centre.
before
setting
off;
if
police
advise
Keep your washer bottle topped
motorists to make
not to travel, then do not risk it.
up with an even stronger concen-
dangerous decisions
Make sure you know how the
tration of de-ice.
demister settings on your car
It might sound like old news,
of their own.
work and how to adjust them
properly. If you are riding, a clean
scratch-free visor with a properly
fitted insert will help you stay
mist free.
Never pour boiling water on the
screen as the sudden temperature
change may cause cracks. Pre-
vention is better than a cure so if
A study for Kwik Fit, the
UK’s leading automotive servic-
ing and repair company, shows
that 89% of drivers say they find
tailgating by other drivers either
very or moderately annoying, sec-
ond only to dangerous overtaking
(92%), and three quarters (75%)
would act in response to a car
following too closely.
The most popular course of
action for drivers being tailgated
is to slow down to leave a wider
gap between them and the car in
front, with the aim of encouraging
the tailgater to do the same. This
move would be adopted by 37% of
tailgated motorists, however many
drivers take riskier measures.
Over a third (34%) of drivers,
some 13.9 million licence hold-
ers, say that if being followed too
closely by the car behind they
would lightly dab their brakes
to make their brake lights come
on without slowing down. 8%
of drivers would use their fog
lights, flicking them on to make
the driver behind think that they
are braking. One in ten drivers
(10%) go even further, saying they
would brake sharply to get the car
behind to back off.
All these moves carry significant
risks of causing a collision – the
driver following too closely may
overreact with their own braking
and cause a ripple effect leading
to an impact in the traffic flow
behind as the car’s ‘concertina’.
kwik-fit.com/brakes
but you may need up to 10 times
the distance to stop in icy con-
ditions - increase your following
distance to account for this. If a
car has to stop suddenly or worse
still, a crash occurs, you will need
that extra time to react and stop.
www.iamroadsmart.com
SAFER DRIVING IN SNOW
ROAD SAFETY and break-
down organisation GEM Motoring
Assist is encouraging motorists to
ensure they – and their vehicles
– are ready for the potential chal-
lenges of driving in winter.
What is a safe speed
for driving in snow?
Experience shows that it is not
your speed that’s the problem, it’s
how you lose the speed in order
to stop in an emergency, or to
negotiate a sharp bend, or pull
up safely at a junction. If there is
snow on the road, your braking
distance will be vastly increased
compared to what you’re used to
on a dry road. The faster you go,
the more distance you will need
to stop safely. Be sure to maintain
a risk assessment. If it’s snow-
ing and settling, then you must
slow right down. Try to maintain
momentum by anticipating when
you’ll need to slow down and
speed up.
How can I expect my
rear-wheel drive car
to behave on snow?
It may well accelerate poorly,
I’m afraid. Front wheel drive cars
will be much better at pulling off
in conditions of low traction.
What are the best
roads to use when
it’s snowing?
It may sound unhelpful, but the
best advice is not to drive at all
if you don’t need to. Gentle hills
can become impassable, and even
busy motorways can quickly turn
into car parks during a snowfall.
What emergency
equipment should I take
if I must drive in snow?
Take a hot drink flask, snacks, a
blanket, rug or sleeping bag to en-
sure you can stay warm if you get
stuck. If you need to leave your
vehicle, then it’s a good idea to en-
sure you have boots, a warm coat
and reflective jacket with you.
www.motoringassist.com/winter-driving