Keeping Safe: Winter Driving Tips

Luckily for us, we don’t always have to travel over terrain like the Ice Road Truckers, but that doesn’t mean that the British winter is any less dangerous for your fleet. When climbing into your vehicle, it’s important you take care on the roads during the winter months.

Keep Windscreen and Windows Clear

As 4 and 5 o’clock eats up the sunlight, setting off on your cross country road journey can bring about some dangers. The severe lack of light means you need to be able to see everything the moment you turn on your ignition. Setting off with frost still decorating your windscreen, rear window and side mirrors is a huge problem.

Overnight, instead of leaving your fleet out in the cold to frost over, take a couple of sheets of newspaper or a couple of blankets and cover your windscreen, windows and mirrors. When you come to using your vehicles you’ll have instant 360⁰ vision!

The Benefits of Driving Gloves

Driving gloves aren’t just for show, these effective hand warmers are a brilliant alternative to turning on your heating and draining your much needed battery. During the winter months your steering wheel can grow very cold, this can cause cramp in your hands if your vehicle is not warmed up properly, hindering your driving ability and your response to situations such as aquaplaning and driving over black ice.

If you want to extend the life expectancy of your vehicle’s battery without losing your fingers, invest in a good pair of driving gloves.

Getting Stuck in Snow

We may be more prone to floods and black ice in England, but that doesn’t mean we (or anywhere else you travel to) won’t be subjected to our fair share of snow. The worst thing you can do if you find yourself stuck in snow is to try to power out of it. This will only dig you in deeper and cause a mountain out of a mole hill situation. Try rocking your vehicle out of the snow by moving it back and forth in the highest possible gear to get traction. If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to call for some help. Better to sit still and wait for assistance than damage your vehicle or your goods trying to get out.

Emergency Car Kit

Every vehicle, be it part of your fleet or a personal vehicle, should have an emergency  car kit. If you find yourself stuck in the snow, or perhaps your vehicle has had an unfortunate breakdown, you could be in for a lengthy wait depending on traffic and where you are. The last thing you want during winter is to find yourself broken down on an A road with a good hour before help arrives. Your main issues are oncoming traffic and the ever present cold.

Your emergency kit should consist of a first aid box, car blanket, warm clothes, a shovel, wellington boots, fully charged mobile phone, hazard triangle, de-icing equipment, a torch and some much needed food and drinks. If you can’t sort out your breakdown yourself, then it’s always a good idea to be prepared for a long wait.

We want to make sure your fleet stays in tiptop condition during these risky driving months. To be sure you’re fully covered for any incidents which may arise while on the road, we offer comprehensive fleet insurance for your peace of mind. For more information, contact us today on 0333 202 3173 or follow us on Google+, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for the latest news and updates!