Now that we are into the autumn and winter months, the clocks have gone back and the days are getting shorter, we always see an increase in the number of road accidents. The purpose of this article is to encourage you to adopt some safe driving practices which could not only save you the inconvenience of being involved in an accident, they could also save injury or even save someone's life. So please take a few moments to read through these 7 top tips to stay safe when driving this winter and apply them to your own driving.
1. Leave longer for your journey.
With the winter conditions people become more cautious when driving. Rain, mist, fog, snow or ice make people incredibly nervous when driving and therefore they move off more slowly from junctions. The impact of hundreds of people driving more slowly means that you will not get from A to B as quickly as you will do during the summer months, so you must allow more time for your journey. If you do not you might find yourself driving more impatiently to reach your office, the school or an important meeting. Allowing more time for your journey reduces the chance of you causing or being involved in an accident.
2. Leave a safe distance from the car in front.
Following on from item one, you must also make sure that you leave more room than usual from the car in front. If the roads are wet or slippery it will take you longer to stop, so leaving more room could save you from colliding with the car in front causing the poor soul to suffer a whiplash injury. Stay safe, leave plenty of space!
3. Tread carefully.Make sure your tyres are in good condition and have good tread all over them.
Any bald spots could cause you to skid when breaking causing a collision with a car in front or a wall if at a junction. Checking your tyres and replacing them if necessary will reduce the chances of an accident.
4. Braking News.
I know that is a misspelling, but you really do need to ensure that your brakes are working well. Now is not the time to have juddery or poor performing brakes. Have your car serviced to ensure that the brakes are good, your brake fluid and engine oils are topped up to the appropriate levels and you will be safe on the roads. A few pounds spent now can save a considerable amount of money and pain later.
5. Breaking News.
If you are on long journeys you must take regular rest breaks. It is more tiring driving in wet or dark conditions. Your reaction times reduce rapidly when you are tired, so to ensure that you are in peak form you must rest regularly. Yes it will add a few minutes to your journey but at least you will get to your destination, which might not be the case if you do not take adequate rest breaks.
6. Fill Your Boots!
Yes, literally! Fill your car boot with all the necessary equipment that you will need to keep you safe. Make sure you have de-icer, ice scrapers, a spade, extra jackets and blankets, and a warning triangle and high visibility vest so that if you do breakdown you do not cause an accident by being invisible.
7. Stay In.
If the conditions are really bad, do not make your journey but stay in the warmth and safety of your own home. Sometimes it is really not worth the risk.
Summary.
Prevention is always better than cure, so please do stay safe over the autumn and winter months by following these easy steps to your safety!