Four Tips for Safe Winter Driving

Driving in winter can be a simple matter. In Basingstoke, tyres are seldom much affected by inclement weather, but it can happen that a cold snap or especially prolonged winter can occur. Here is how to keep driving safely even when faced with ice, snow and other panicking drivers.

Be Prepared

As the Scouts say, it is better to have something and not need than to need it and not have it. Being prepared for almost any eventuality might seem like overkill, but future you will be very grateful to past you for thinking about a small first aid box, long-lasting high-nutrition snacks, a blanket, shovel, torch and emergency signage should you slide off the road and end up wedged in a ditch, needing to wait hours for road-side assistance to come along and retrieve you and your vehicle.

Step Up the Checks

As a responsible driver, you are probably checking your vehicle, especially the tyres, once a month or so, to make sure everything is in good condition still. Despite the cold that makes it tempting to give these chores a miss, it is more important than ever that you keep them up. Tyres will react differently to the cold, and a weakness can more readily become a problem in freezing conditions. If you spot it in good time, you are much less likely to suffer a puncture or blow-out, thereby keeping you, your passengers and all the other road-users that little bit safer!

Take Your Time

Allow more time for your journeys in winter. Not only should you understand that your car's response time is longer on an icy road, your own reflexes might be dulled by the cold too. Add into this other drivers having mishaps and fender-benders which can close the road or significant lanes for long minutes at a time, and your regular journey could end up taking much longer than usual.

Winter Tyres

Winter tyres should be used if the temperature will be below 7°C on a regular basis for the duration. In Basingstoke,tyres do not suffer too much from the cold as the climate tends to be mild, but between late November and March, you may want to make the switch for added peace of mind and greater road security. For that matter you can shop from a wide range of all popular tyre brands! Book tyres from Headley Tyres Basingstoke with zero upfront payment and stay safe on road throughout the winters.