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Winter is the time of year when you can expect bad weather conditions, but are you prepared for this? ‘Don’t drive if you know that the weather is going to be bad’ is good advice, but not always possible. If driving is how you make your living, or at least a big part of it, then you drive despite bad weather conditions.
Most drivers know that at this time of the year, it is always best to be prepared for the worst, and so they carry a winter driving emergency kit with them. Make sure that your car has had its regular MOT as well, and that your car battery does not need replacing.
What to Do Beforehand
Good drivers will check their vehicle on a regular basis to ensure that their tyres are properly pumped and the treads aren’t worn. In bad weather, you should also check your oil and water levels and ensure that you’ve got sufficient antifreeze before you set off. Check that your lights are working, as they must be before venturing onto the road. Keep your windscreen clear at all times, but especially in bad weather, and if the wiper blades are worn then get them replaced.
What to Carry No Matter What the Weather
Always have either a satnav or a road atlas in the car, just in case of diversions in areas you’re unfamiliar with – and carry any personal medication. Besides making sure that your vehicle has at least a quarter of a tank more petrol than you actually need, sunglasses and a fully charged phone are also necessary. In addition to these items, you should put together a basic emergency kit to carry when bad weather is forecast.
What to Keep in Your Bad Weather Kit
You should carry a blanket for extra warmth if you get stuck in bad weather. If snow is forecast, then take a shovel, just in case you need to dig your vehicle out. You should also have a high-powered torch so that other drivers can see what you are doing. You should keep a first aid kit in your car all year round.
Always carry a fully charged mobile phone (not just in bad weather) as you may need to make emergency calls – but don’t use it while you are driving as this is against the law. It is always a good idea to carry a thermos of hot tea or whatever you prefer; motorway service stations are not always handy – and even they’ve been known to sell out in harsh conditions.
You should have a deicer and ice scraper in your winter kit, along with spare torch batteries. Keep some waterproof clothes in the car, along with a pair of gloves and an extra jumper. If you are stuck in icy conditions for a couple of hours you can get really cold, which can have an effect on your driving and your reaction time. Some winter boots are the ideal extra footwear, in case you have to leave the car and walk any distance.
