Top Tips for Driving in Icy Conditions

Pre-Journey

Before embarking on a car journey whether short or long, you should first follow these pre-journey tips

Check Your Car: Ensure your car is suitable for driving in icy conditions, check your tire treads, ensure your battery is charged and also the antifreeze levels of your car.

Invest in Winter Tyres: Winter tyres are designed to give better grip and also more control in winter conditions, investing in a set of winter tyres will ensure safer driving throughout the colder months.

Clean Your Car: Be sure to thoroughly check the outside of your vehicle and remove any ice or snow from the car, including the windows as well as the car roof.

Have a Route Planned: Planning your route before hand can save you time, if possible, avoid back roads that may have treacherous ice conditions, as well as hidden potholes due to ice and snow.

Allow More Time: Give yourself extra time for your journey, ensuring you don’t have to rush and allow for slower and safer driving.

Throughout The Journey

When driving in icy conditions it is important to adapt to the road conditions and inclement weather, here are our tips for driving in icy conditions.

Braking and Acceleration: Use the brake and accelerators moderately, by gently accelerating as well as braking to avoid losing grip and wheel spinning, fast use of either could result in loss of control

Steering: The key to driving in icy conditions is to maintain smooth steering, avoiding any sudden turns of the wheel which could result in skidding.

Gears: Using a higher gear will help to maintain better traction on the road as well a reduce the risks of wheelspins.

Keep Your Distance: Maintaining a longer distance from the car in front gives you extra time for safely stopping and a better reaction time so not to have to unnecessary brake hard which is a major problem if you are driving over icy roads.

Use Engine Braking: This will allow you to slow down the vehicle without sole reliance on using the brakes and allow you to reduce your speed safely

Watch out for Black Ice: Although difficult to see due to its transparency, black ice tends to form in shaded areas, as well as on bridges and overpasses. Paying extra attention and caution is key to avoiding losing control due to this hidden danger.

Additional Tips for Icy Conditions

Windshield: Be sure to always keep your windshield clear, use a quality ice-scraper and keep in the car, you may want to carry a can of de-icer too, certainly if you are leaving your car at your destination for any length of time.

Headlights: Even in daylight, headlights provide better visibility, especially on icy roads allowing you to see the potential dangers that are ahead.

Check the Weather Conditions: Before embarking on any journey when ice and snow are prevalent, it is always worth checking the weather conditions first, as well as for any road closures, and try and avoid travelling in severe conditions.

Safe Driving Habits: By practicing safe driving habits, you are not only making the UK roads safer for you, but for others as well. Always wear your seat belt, avoid in-car distractions as well as pay full attention to the roads ahead, this should be for any conditions and time of year.

Stay Safe on The Roads

By following these tips, you can increase your own safety as well as the safety of others, and help to make our roads safer for everyone, being a safer driver is all about erring on the side of caution, paying attention at all times and avoid driving in severe weather conditions where possible.