Safe Speed Forums

I thought that the thread on Winter Driving is now so big, many of the good driving points raised are possibly getting lost somewhat, so I thought we could collate here all the points about Driving in the Winter.

1) Basics - vehicle checks :
tyres (preferably snow or winter ones at least on the driving wheels) (if affordable!), screenwash in antifreeze, coolant with antifreeze, good wiper blade condition, - the heater, demister/s & blower controls work well, well oiled key holes and locks, all drainage points are non blocked, all the car pipes and tubes are all in good condition, preferably all maintenance is up to date.
carry spare, oil spray, blankets, boots and warm weather jacket, hats and gloves, shovel, (? bag of salt), emergency food supplies, maybe even a small camping stove, (matches / lighter), water and hot drink equipment, good map, torch, spare coolant and antifreeze.
Standard :
tyre pump, spare tyre or 'other', small toolbox, ice scraper, rope, hessian sacks, or tyre grip srtips, spare bulbs & fuses and any other car essential items, first aid, emergency phone &/or phone charger

2) Driver Tips
a) if the temperature is low approx 3 degrees then allow for potential ice to be :
in an areas that have (likely) been in the shade for most of the day, (face North) this includes still air too ;
so valleys, low road sections, bridges, corners, dips and rises, tree and hedge lined areas, and higher exposed areas as the temp drops as you climb (3 degrees per 1000ft) - town area may be ice free but be very careful.

b) if the temperature is very low approx -1 degree:
ice is likely in all areas including in town, but especially as you arrive in the open countryside locations,

Be especially wary as soon as you see white areas that often 'sparkle' on the road, a sure sign that the road is either frosty or icy depending on weather and conditions and temp, some dark areas maybe black ice too, so go very slowly if you are unsure.
Pay great attention to all that the locations that you travel through tell you, pay attention to it all, keeping your eyes peeled for the earliest signs of potential hazards, as you may need lots of extra room to manoeuvre, do leave much larger gaps between you and the car in front.
if you can check the weather before you leave, and try to allow good margins for your journey times so that you never feel rushed, if you are scared as you feel ice try and stay calm and make careful slow but steady progress, if there is a hill and road users are struggling, wait for them to get to the top before you go and the same going down hill too. Try to look well ahead to see where other road users are and if there is a slow section ensure you are not approaching too fast.

Go carefully at all times, ensuring that you can stop safely, in the distance that you can see to be clear.

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

Change your corner line to account for potential traction problems ahead.

Aim to be pointing in the direction you wish to leave in as early as possible, then if you encounter ice/standing water mid-corner, you can just coast in the right direction.

...and bear in mind that coming DOWN a hill can be a lot more dangerous than trying to get up one!

(Would also question the winter tyres on the driven axle advice, to be honest. If that's the front axle, it could lead to "entertaining" handling)!

yep that bit in the highway code about the uphill traffic having priority obviously stems back to the days of horse and cart and low powered vehicles....it certainly doesn't take into consideration someone trying to stop on a hill in adverse weather conditons when going down.....

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

Keeping all lights cleaned - even stop on the journey and give them a wipe over.
Ensuring the inside of the windscreen is clean too, give that extra clarity when the muck thrown up off the road or lorry spray is frequent.

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

Some great advice from the true road safety charity

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Currently undergoing training with the I.A.M.

Don't want to drag this way off topic but just wanting to enquire what everyone uses for screen wash.
I'm not a big fan of the blue stuff and much prefer to use a bit of fairy liquid in with plain water. Recently i found that pouring in the contents of a bottle of spray glass cleaner and topping up with water did a great job of cleaning the windscreen but will not stop the freezing later on in winter. what are you guys using?

My top tips -

Staying with the screenwash theme - make sure the screenwash is topped up regularly its easy to get through more than you imagine when there is a load of dirty spray. Keep your chosen screenwash additive a bit more concentrated than usual so that if you require to top up with fresh water you wont dilute it to a level that is useless.

Keep a spare bottle of water in the cabin area. If the washer jets freeze you can slosh it across the windscreen in an emergency or use it to top up an empty reservoir. It can also be drunk if the worst really comes to the worst!

If you pull up behind another car and half of it is dark or you are lighting up its interior get your headlights fixed/realigned. I reckon about 30% of cars have some defect in the headlights just now causing them to look like motorbikes in poor visibility or dazzling everyone else. The misalignment will also cause a lot of backscatter during thick fog and snowfalls.

Tyres - remember the legal limit is just that - the minimum amount of tread to enable you not to receive 3 points. Many people regard 3mm as the safe limit but i would rather have a lot more than that when there is a lot of standing water and slush around. While I wouldn't recommend snow tyres for the vast majority of the uk, winter tyres will allow extra traction in winter conditions due to the tread pattern and the rubber compound staying more pliable in cold conditions.

Yep there has been some excellent advice, thanks chaps.

Lights - I like backscatter but I have known that as 'throwback'. I find the number of misaligned lights are awful in my vicinity.

Note about keeping water in the car - where I am NEVER fill it to the top or when things freeze it can burst ! Same with some drink cans too !
(-22degress for certain). Agree totally that it can be emergency water for you and any furry friends.
I usu have minute clean in the car to clean the windows with if the ice has frozen things but that can freeze too ... I have always reckoned adding in a touch of 'spirit' to stop it freezing - but have wondered about Metatone Tonic - never tried but have 'wondered' - anyone tried this ?

Those 2 TV cleaning ladies, might have an idea if we don't !

A word of caution though - some soap liquids can erode seals, do be careful - leave a seal in a small tub and see what happens over - a month or so (guess on the time limit here) ....

Other things to carry : emergency triangle ... and yellow vest / jacket ...

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

Back in the seventies when we used to have colder winters we used to put a drop of meths in the water to help stop it freezing....used to get you high at the same time....

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

My tip - use a proprietary screenwash 50/50 , then find a really cheap bottle of washing up liquid - Asda do one for a few pence - the important thing about being cheap is that it don't foam - and add a good dollop - that gets rid of the grease on the screen - then every so often , apply some to the windscreen , put on the wipers ,wash off with water and screen wash -hey presto - squeeky clean windscreen .

You can also use a tabloid paper and vinegar - tip from my old dad .

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Slower approaches to all hazards too can help - that ensures that if black ice is met or anything else that extra time give some extra safety. Larger gaps to all other vehicles helps too.

Equipment - add a sleeping bag / blanket ! Extra gloves and hat and hi vis vest / jacket ....

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

Has anyone mentioned testing your car's response to braking where it's safe to do so? Even if you think you know what will happen if you hit a slippy bit, it's worth refreshing your memory.

I go through a notable frost pocket on my way to work, and on the first icy morning I tested my van's response to braking. Clatter of ABS and no noticeable slowing , so decided to go careful.

Also remember that your handbrake can help you stop when in a slide ... although hopefully you won't get into this situation !

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

As well as helping you change direction when in a front wheel slide (understeer), this is best practiced in open situations when not under emergency siuations though.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

Another thought - I do this but don't know if it is a helpful thought to anyone else. Apart from the heavy boots and jacket and hat so that if I have to walk I do NOT advertise that I am a 'stranded' female, I also have (non de-script) rucksack. This is to carry my little camping stove and hot water flask and packet drinks and soup, so should I have to walk anywhere I can and obtain nourishment when necessary, (along with my 'wind proof' lighter and trusty penknife).
Also in the rucksack is an extra jumper, survival blanket (now with questionable benefit) but it can be useful to sit on or as a rain guard, umbrella, small 1st aid kit (inc insect repellent).
The car (of course) has a small stash of chocolate and a packet one pan meal or two ... I try to rotate them so they never go off. If the dogs are in the car and the weather is bad then I may carry a small extra bag of dog food too. If my dogs were not weather cope-able then I guess I may have a dog jacket, happily mine are ... Mind I guess a snow board so that the dogs can pull me along would be very smart !
I also carry two of the small foldable water 'bowls' one for me in case it becomes necessary and one for the dogs. I have one of those dog water bottle/bowls too which is good for travelling/walking.
That reminds me having a dog carry bag, so that he can carry his own things would be good - I keep thinking of making one or getting my friend to make one p as she makes them but I have not got around to it !
Considering last winter (or was it the one before) when all those people ended up parked on the M11 and some without even a blanket in all that snow seems utterly irresponsible to me. Or maybe I am terribly independent and not being forgiving enough to others ?
To me having a car with extra stock in 'just in case' is wise and sensible. I see it as a bit like insurance, you never need it until you do then it becomes extremely necessary.

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

Havent seen this one mentioned - so I thought I'd put it in - it's an old one - more usefull for RWD cars/vans etc , might cause problems on FWD ,unless anyone's thought of a way round it .
Simply put - it's an old dodge .
Equipment - old sack/carpet /doormat .Length of rope .
On RWD car - fit doormat under rear wheels , tie rope to doormat and rear of car - get in and drive off -sometimes it needs an assistant to help mat get under wheels .
Drive to top of hill , retrieve mats ( and assistant )-carry on till next problem .
NB- CHANGING DOWN EARLY ( POSSIBLY DOUBLE DE CLUTCH) TO KEEP UP SPEED WITH CONSTANT MOMENTUM MIGHT PREVENT LOSS OF TRACTION .

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

I've usu. had 'grip mats' in the boot too ! Must put them in now we have winter upon us - forgot them ! I even saw some for sale when I was south ! We loaned one to this chap that had got stuck and he melted one (a section of one anyway!) - the complete err numpty !
So what is the rope for ?? I looked for hessain sacks a while back and did find them again, but I still have the mats and shovel ... But I fail to see the rope bit ?

If you tie the rope to the rear towbar then the assistant can leap on once the car is free of the obstacle and gets pulled up or down the hill etc - then when you can next stop (if you don't forget him / her of course) or if they haven't turned into a large snowball by this point (!) then you can stop (not too quick or they will carry on and collide with the car (although this might remove all the ice they have collected) - or overtake you) and save them the trouble of walking up the hill after you !!! (hehehe) (now you can see the animator in me !)

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

I tend to use "blue stuff" and water from the dehumidifier for the screen wash. This water doesn't seem to contain any calcium carbonate which means the window doesn't get streaks on it. Also whenever it is a bit wet I'll often use a rubber scraper thing to clean the windows as this gets rid of dirt better than the windscreen wipers ever can.

I do need a new rear windscreen wiper, the current one didn't last very long at all.

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Andrew.

I'd never thought of that!

I'll try it in my van. My car generally gets from one service to the next without a refill!

Yes. I think it's one of the most versatile techniques at our disposal. Also harsh acceleration to do the same thing (I can do that because i have a front wheel drive car with an open diff, so unless I do it in the middle of a bend, I'm unlikely to "fall off"! Using either the braking or acceleration technique is a brilliant way of "sampling" the available grip at any point along the road. Only drawback is that it's not too pleasant for passengers - especially if there IS grip!

On the subject of screenwash I don't like using washing up liquid. I used to, many years ago, but sufered an unusually high incidence of blocked jets. Not sure if it was to do with the liquid or just coincidence, but I've never liked it since.