Turning the ignition key first thing on a damp and freezing December morning was once a gamble, with no guarantee that the car would stir itself into life, but no more; the modern car is more than capable of dealing with a British winter and a few simple precautions can help avoid an unnecessary breakdown.
Antifreeze
During the winter you use more windscreen wiper fluid so make sure that you have anti-freeze or windscreen washer fluid anti-freeze mix, in your car’s water bottle. You don’t want to find yourself stuck behind a lorry trying to clean your windows only to find your washer liquid has frozen.
Survival kit
If the idea of stowing a winter driving survival kit in your boot sounds a bit Bear Grylls, think again – carrying a torch, a little non-perishable food and a blanket can make all the difference if you should break down.
Tyres
The reason other European road networks do not grind to halt following a decent fall of snow is that many motorists invest in snow tyres. The sporadic nature of our winter weather here in Britain means that very few of us do the same, but it is vitally important to check the condition of your tyres when there is snow and ice on the road. First make sure that the tyre treads are the correct depth – ideally more than 3 mm for winter. Secondly, make sure that the tyres are inflated correctly, as the cold weather can lower tyre pressure. Do not be tempted to reduce tyre pressure to get more grip as this does not work, and can seriously reduce stability.
Electrics
If it is five years or more since you changed your battery, get it checked by your local garage. Flat batteries are the most common cause of car breakdowns over the winter months. Check that you have car breakdown cover in place
Fuel
Keep your tank topped up in winter as you never know when you’re going to need that extra fuel. If you are driving and become snowed in, conserve your fuel. Run your engine every twenty minutes to warm the car.
Behind the wheel
- Snow chains are cheap to buy and quick to fit so make a wise investment
- In slippery conditions, avoid sudden acceleration and braking – driving as smoothly as possible will make it less likely that you slide and return better fuel economy, too. If you start to skid, gently lift your foot off the accelerator and steer into the slide
- Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged and that you have the number of your breakdown recovery service stored
- It is important you can see and be seen so take time to remove any snow and ice from your vehicle’s windows, headlights, brake lights and indicators
- Your car may be fitted with electronic stability control (ESC) – a gizmo that, in the event of a skid, automatically applies the brakes to individual wheels. However, you may find that ESC hinders your progress up a snow-covered incline
- Breakdown cover costs from less than £30 – ensure you have cover in place. Get an instant quote
- Do not use cruise control in snowy or icy conditions
Jim Clark
Has this site been taken over by wimps and Daily Mail readers, it’s articles like this that encourage people who live in the suberbs to buy four wheel drive vehicles.
I learnt to drive in the 1960s in Cumberland as it was then, my first car was a Hillman Imp, My job took me to the heart of the Lake District winter and summer. I then moved to Scotland, then Snowdonia, Wales. I regularly had to clear my drive before I could leave home and have had to do so in recent winters, often the entrance was blocked by a bank of snow pushed there by a snow plough. Had several makes of car, never a four wheel drive, never any trouble starting in winter, only a couple of skids which I managed to control. Hardly anyone except farmers owned a four wheel drive in the areas I lived. I did have access to a Land Rover for work some times but normally I was paid for using my own car. In the country we have a couple of remarks about four wheel drives. You are not allowed to get them dirty, look round a car park or just look at them on the road. If you are in a normal car on a narrow road and a four wheel comes towards you the four wheel stays on the road and the two wheel drive car has to go on the verge.
People drive too fast in snow, that’s the problem. If there really is a lot of snow and it looks like more, then don’t go.
Finally my wife was being treated for cancer we had to travel 50 miles each way to the hospital every day, on one day many roads were blocked, firstly I had to clear our access track, then drive on roads that were partly blocked although the snowplough had been along them, it was nice to see more than a few abadoned four wheel drives, we arrived and returned safely, allowing plenty of time and driving sensibly.
Andrew Davis
The ETA is the same as it ever was. Similar articles as this one have appeared every year. You must have seen, as I have over the years, many people who appear not to know how to drive in snow. We go out to thousands of breakdowns across the country and it is sad to see how many people get into a pickle and worse in snow or wintry conditions for lack of foresight or preparation.
I still find it odd that so many people only take out breakdown insurance after they breakdown for the first time.
My assumption is that, in most cases, the purchase of a four by four off-roader is for fashion rather than function.
Jim Clark
People buy 4 wheel drive in the mistaken belief put forward in adverts that they are safer and can cope with bad weather conditions. Look at the idiot who a few months ago had to be rescued with his family from flood water whilst in a four wheel drive. They may be fashion items for some. Four wheel drives get stuck in snow, wet ground and sand. It is the hype that says otherwise. One famous make cuts out in water as it has a chip low down which controls the engine . Another can hardly cope with a minor incline on grass. I know cos I was there. Most people don’t know how to drive off road or in snow. For instance if a road is not salted the snow becomes compacted and like ice, on top of this tyre treads can become clogged with hard snow making the tyres smooth.
What is stated above about winter driving is in most drivers manuals, except some food. When I was working I took a flask and something to eat daily, I sometimes worked at night so had a torch. As I was out and about in the country I wore suitable clothing, I also carried a shovel. In winter it would not be unusual for me to be driving on roads with snow piled as high as the car windows or even the roof, cleared by snow ploughs. B roads and lower were sometimes not cleared and the snow was compacted.
We as a family have lived in some pretty remote areas down tracks that joined minor roads, We have been snowed in several times, like driving we were prepared, we had a good stock of fuel, reserve food, plenty of flour, spuds etc. oil lamps and candles, we still do. A few years ago when our power supply was down we ended up cooking on an open fire for several days. We are both quite old, born in the last years of the war we think the youngsters of to-day (anyone under 50) has no sense, they get their experience from TV and food from Tesco all wrapped and prepared, it’s even possible to buy ready to eat mashed potatoes for goodness sake. If the weather is so bad then don’t travel but there is always plenty of idiots that will and some one struggling to work in a snow storm is always a good headline in the Daily Mail or BBC news.