The end of 2011 hasn't exactly been the coldest winter yet €" it has, in fact, been one of the mildest in the last 50 years, but that doesn't mean that you should start preparing for summer already. In the last couple of weeks the weather has noticeably worsened, with much of the UK being coated in rain and wind, and heavy snow and ice is predicted for the beginning of 2012. If you want to stay prepared, you will need to adapt your driving to this weather, just to be on the safe side and avoid any preventable accidents.
For the current wet weather, you should try to limit your speed as much as possible. This is because it is harder to make emergency stops in wet weather, and you should increase your following distance to account for this. Also, you shouldn't drive too closely behind trucks, buses or other large vehicles €" the road spray created by them will obscure your vision and will also coat your windscreen in hard to move dirt and grime. Because of this, keeping your windscreen wash topped up at all times is important.
In the wintertime it gets darker earlier on, so you will need to turn your headlights on as soon as twilight hits, especially if it is raining. Just as you find it difficult to see through your windscreen when it is raining, pedestrians and other drivers will find it hard to spot you if you don't have your headlights on.
It can also be difficult to judge the actual depth of puddles on the road, so you should avoid splashing through them at all costs. This rule should be followed even more so when driving off road €" getting stuck in a pothole in muddy conditions could make your car near impossible to extract without the help of a tow truck. When you are driving on the roads, try not to splash pedestrians €" you can actually be prosecuted for doing this if you are caught and your car insurance premiums will increase as a result.
You will also need to ensure that your tyres are in good condition €" if you have worn the treads down you should replace your tyres immediately. As the winter sets in, you should consider buying yourself a set of snow socks that will offer increased tyre traction in snowy and icy weather.
Other things that you should keep a close eye on include your windscreen wipers, the levels of your antifreeze, water and oil, and your battery, which can be affected by extreme weather conditions.
For the current wet weather, you should try to limit your speed as much as possible. This is because it is harder to make emergency stops in wet weather, and you should increase your following distance to account for this. Also, you shouldn't drive too closely behind trucks, buses or other large vehicles €" the road spray created by them will obscure your vision and will also coat your windscreen in hard to move dirt and grime. Because of this, keeping your windscreen wash topped up at all times is important.
In the wintertime it gets darker earlier on, so you will need to turn your headlights on as soon as twilight hits, especially if it is raining. Just as you find it difficult to see through your windscreen when it is raining, pedestrians and other drivers will find it hard to spot you if you don't have your headlights on.
It can also be difficult to judge the actual depth of puddles on the road, so you should avoid splashing through them at all costs. This rule should be followed even more so when driving off road €" getting stuck in a pothole in muddy conditions could make your car near impossible to extract without the help of a tow truck. When you are driving on the roads, try not to splash pedestrians €" you can actually be prosecuted for doing this if you are caught and your car insurance premiums will increase as a result.
You will also need to ensure that your tyres are in good condition €" if you have worn the treads down you should replace your tyres immediately. As the winter sets in, you should consider buying yourself a set of snow socks that will offer increased tyre traction in snowy and icy weather.
Other things that you should keep a close eye on include your windscreen wipers, the levels of your antifreeze, water and oil, and your battery, which can be affected by extreme weather conditions.
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