Page 774 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive
P. 774
Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 282
4 January 2012
Winter Driving
We are now back to work after hopefully having enjoyed a festive break with the family. Driving is the
single most dangerous thing that most of us do everyday and it’s pertinent to start the new year off with
a reminder of this.
Driving in high winds, heavy rain, sleet or snow brings heightened dangers on the road and on Tuesday
3 January a man was killed in Tunbridge Wells, Kent when a tree blew over onto his van; but
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arguably, other road users who don’t acknowledge the changing conditions and take to the roads as
normal are even more dangerous.
10 TIPS FOR DRIVING IN THE WINTER MONTHS:
1. Check your tyre pressure – flat tyres reduce your grip which can be lethal in wet conditions.
2. Check your tyre tread depth – a 20p coin can be a useful tread guide. If you can see the outer
band of the coin when you put it in a groove, your tread depth may be illegal. Tyres should also
be checked for any cuts or bulges.
3. Don’t speed – breaking the speed limit is illegal and dangerous all of the time, but add bad
weather to the mix and you have a potentially deadly cocktail!
4. Keep well back – in rain, snow or ice, stopping distances will increase dramatically, so slow
down and keep well back from the vehicle in front.
5. Use the appropriate gear – in wet or icy conditions, accelerate slowly and use a high gear to
get more traction.
6. Don’t overtake the gritter or snow plough – they may be moving slowly but they are there to
make your journey safer. The road ahead of a gritter or snow plough is likely to be worse than
the road behind it. Keep back!
7. Check the fluids – ensure that windscreen wash is topped up with fluid and antifreeze if
necessary. Also, be sure your wiper blades are clean.
8. Lights, lights, lights – poor weather conditions make it more difficult to see the road and other
drivers. Switch on your lights to see, and be seen.
9. Don’t just rely on sat-navs – your sat-nav may show a gentle bend in the road, but hazards like
a bad camber, crest, oncoming vehicle or narrowing road won’t be shown on a sat-nav screen.
Slow down and take care.
10. Check your oil – the last place you want to be on a cold December evening is at the side of a
busy road with steam billowing from your engine bay. Check your oil level and keep it
topped-up.
