Coping With A Cold Snap On The Road
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With the bitterly cold winter weather grabbing all the headlines at the moment, it’s only wise to be prepared and safe on the roads. We all know that road traffic incident rates spike dramatically with the plunging Mercury, with freezing fog, black ice, driving winds, sleet and snow drifts all creating hazardous driving conditions and causing mechanical failures in our vehicles. The rate of breakdowns more than doubles during the worst of the winter months. So make sure you know how to take care of yourself and your car if you’re planning any winter road trips.
Ensure Adequate Cover
If you’ve been getting by on third party breakdown cover to save costs, you may want to think about upgrading your policy to a fully comprehensive one instead. Getting stranded in the cold is a real possibility and however bad a breakdown is, it’s always going to ten times worse to endure in subzero temperatures, especially if you’re likely to have your family with you in the car. Programme the emergency phone number into your mobile and note down the policy number and other relevant details on a slip of paper in your glove box, just in case you run out of charge. Make sure you are aware of exactly what your policy covers and any conditions, such as how far away from home you need to be for it to kick in.
Know What To Do In An Accident
It’s no surprise that accident occur a lot more frequently in adverse conditions, so make sure that you know what to do if something was to happen out on the roads. It’s a good idea to carry a basic first aid kit, a torch and a warning triangle in your boot, along with emergency supplies such as bottled water, a packet of cereal bars, a waterproof coat and some blankets, as well as a powerbank for your phone and even a disposable camera. Make sure you steer the car out of the path of oncoming traffic and put your hazard lights on. Stay calm and try not to let negative emotions get the best of you. Notify the police for all but the most minor collisions and keep your insurance details somewhere to hand. It’s a great idea to take pictures of the vehicles involved, their positions, the road layout and any damage at the scene – details can be difficult to recall later and it will help your insurers to pursue a no-fault claim if there’s evidence to hand. It’s also good to know who to call as the case develops- Tapella & Eberspacher offers legal representation should you need it in the event of a bad incident.
Stock Up Your Car
Make sure that you are always carrying anti-freeze spray, bottled water, an ice scraper and spare light bulbs if you plan on a longer drive in bad weather. If there are snow drifts, you may also want to consider carrying a bag of cat litter – this can help tyres to get a grip if you get snowed in somewhere. Snow chains for tyres are also a sensible option. Before setting off on a journey, check that washer and coolant levels are topped off correctly, and lights and indicators are free of driving grime and clearly visible, and your wiper blades are undamaged. Gently de-ice your windows in the morning with a plastic zip lock bag filled full of warm water – you can also use it to warm your freezing hands up!