DRIVING IN WINTER WEATHER

To ensure the safety of you, your passengers and other motorists in winter, your driving style must adapt to the varying weather.

HEAVY RAIN

• drive smoothly
• leave a larger gap -between you and other vehicles to account for rain, spray. Research suggests that braking distance in wet conditions can double
• use windscreen wipers
• use dipped headlights

FLOODED ROADS

• Use first gear
• Keep distance from other vehicles due to the potential impact of waves caused by the movement of the car
• Check your brakes afterwards
• **If the water is too deep or you are unsure, turn around and find an alternative route

AQUAPLANING

• Avoid aquaplaning by reducing speed when conditions are wet, especially near kerbs where water is usually deepest
• If you find your vehicle aquaplaning, avoid sudden braking or turning. Gently lift your feet off the pedals until the car slows and the tyre makes contact with the surface again
• Test your brakes afterwards

STRONG WINDS

• Drive slowly
• Keep the vehicle steady
• Keep your distance from motorcycles or lorries that are likely to be more severely impacted by strong winds

DRIVING IN FOG

• Avoid driving in fog if you can, or at least first thing in the morning when it is often heaviest
• Check your lights
• Use dipped headlights and fog lamps (but watch for other cars and turn off accordingly)
• Do not use full-beam lights
• Drive much slower than usual
• Ensure great distance between your car and other vehicles

DRIVING IN ICE AND SNOW

• Drive slowly
• Avoid any sudden manoeuvres or braking
• Don’t brake around corners or bends in the road
• Use a lower gear than usual

DRIVING IN THE DARK

• Use dipped headlights before it gets fully dark
• Use full beam lights on roads that aren’t lit. Switch to dipped headlights if another car is coming towards you
• Don’t look at the headlights of other cars

For further information about driving in adverse weather conditions, refer to the Highway Code.