WINTER DRIVING
   



Facing the elements		  


Snow, sleet and ice may pose major risks to motorists, but wet weather and darkness can be greater threats. RoadSafe explains how to keep safe on the roads this winter

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“Few drivers realise that the most common danger in winter is wet weather, not ice and snow”

For many drivers, the winter means snow, sleet, and ice that can lead to slower traffic, hazardous road conditions, hot tempers and unforeseen dangers. Drivers know that weather affects road and driving conditions and can pose serious problems, but few realise the real effects of rain and darkness.

The British weather can be unpredictable. Bad weather can strike suddenly and when it affects visibility or road conditions, drivers need to take special care and be aware of the risks associated with driving in bad weather conditions. RoadSafe director Adrian Walsh says: “Some 50% of all reported road traffic accidents at night occur in wet conditions, but in the UK it is wet on average only 10% of the nights. “Drivers realise the dangers of ice and snow and, indeed, many motoring organisations issue warnings about winter driving. The IAM and the Department for Transport issue guidance, but few drivers realise that the most common danger in winter is wet weather, not ice and snow.”

Safer driving

Good vehicle maintenance is particularly important in winter.

  • Make sure your battery is fully charged; your tyres have plenty of tread and are the right pressure; your wipers and lights work properly
  • Add anti-freeze to the radiator and top up screen wash
  • Keep sunglasses handy to avoid dazzle from winter sun
  • Carry a scraper and de-icer to clear windows and mirrors

When roads are wet

In wet weather, stopping distances will be at least double those required for stopping on dry roads. This is because your tyres have less grip on the road. In wet weather:

  • You should keep well back from the vehicle in front. This will increase your ability to see and plan ahead
  • If steering becomes unresponsive, it probably means the water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road. Ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually
  • The rain and spray from vehicles may make it difficult to see and be seen

Ice and slush make driving particularly hazardous – it can take 10 times longer to stop than on a dry road.

  • When driving, use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin
  • Manoeuvre gently, avoiding sudden braking or acceleration
  • To brake without locking your wheels, get into low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently
  • Take care around winter maintenance vehicles. Keep a safe distance behind salting lorries and snow ploughs, and don’t attempt to overtake. Watch out for banks of snow thrown up by the plough

 

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“It can take 10 times longer to stop in ice or slush than on a dry road”

When planning your journey

  • Ask yourself if your journey is absolutely essential
  • Check the local and national weather forecasts
  • Listen to local and national radio for up-to-date travel information
  • Allow for a longer journey (allow at least 10 minutes longer for each planned hour)
  • Check the outside temperature – if it is low there is a high likelihood of ice
  • Tell someone at your destination what time you expect to arrive
  • Make sure you are equipped with warm clothes, food, boots and a torch. In snowy conditions, take a spade
  • Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out and carry a screen scraper and de-icer

When driving in fog

  • Drive slowly and use dipped headlights or fog lights
  • Don’t hang on to the tail-lights of the vehicle in front
  • Don’t speed up if it seems to be clearing; fog drifts rapidly and is often patchy

When driving on flooded roads

  • Stay in first gear and drive slowly
  • Slip the clutch to keep the engine speed high and avoid stalling
  • If possible, drive in the middle of the road to avoid deeper water near the kerb

When roads are icy or slushy

  • It can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions than on a dry road. Drive slowly, allowing extra room to slow down and stop
  • Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin
  • Manoeuvre gently, avoiding harsh braking and acceleration
  • To brake on ice or snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently
  • If you start to skid, ease off the accelerator, but do not brake suddenly

Why is night driving so dangerous?

In the UK, about 25% of all fatal crashes occur between 4pm and 9pm, the majority in the winter months. German road safety research has shown that while 75% of all driving is done during daylight hours, more than 50% of all fatal accidents happen during the hours of darkness. Similar accident figures have been found in US studies, showing that approximately 50% of serious accidents are caused as a result of the driver not having enough information about the road ahead to take avoiding action.

Explaining the added dangers of night driving, Adrian Walsh, RoadSafe’s director, says: “Ninety per cent of a driver’s reaction depends on vision, and vision is severely limited at night. Even on well-lit roads, depth perception, colour recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sunset.” The risk of death in the case of a crash is three times higher for night driving than for clear visibility conditions.

The stark reality is that the risk of death in the case of a crash is three times higher for night driving than for clear visibility conditions. Research has shown that a driver travelling at 40mph with dipped lights has as little as 1.5 seconds to react to a hazard on the road. This rises to a three seconds on main beams.