Our leaflet entitled 'Your winter road gritting service' provides a map of the treated roads in the county to enable you to choose the best route for your journey. It also gives the following advice on winter driving.
Ice
Slow down, steer gently and use the highest gear you can. If you have to brake, use short, even applications, not heavy sustained pressure. Look out for skid traps like frost and wet leaves.
Fog
Use dipped headlights, keep your windscreen clear and drive so that you can stop in the distance you can see. Use rear fog lights if visibility is less than 100 metres.
Rain
Use dipped headlights, keep your speed down and keep well back form the vehicle in front. If you come to a flood, slow right down, but keep your revs high.
Hail
Slow down and use dipped headlights. Beware of slush on the road after a hail storm
Snow
If the sun dazzles, reduce speed and use your visor. If your tyres won’t grip, there may be a salt/grit heap or bin nearby. Spread the salt/grit in font of your driving wheels and set off in the highest gear you can.
If you are caught in heavy snow, wrap up warm and stay inside your vehicle if possible.
Be prepared
Your vehicle keep it up to scratch at all times and follow this checklist before you go out:
- all lights clean and working, washer bottle full
- clean mirrors and windows inside and out
- tyres at the right pressure with plenty of tread
- battery fully charged and topped up.
Your journey don't take risks:
- keep an eye on the weather forecast and try to use roads on the gritting list / map
- don’t use roads which are closed – you will put yourself and others in danger and abandoned vehicles hamper snow clearance.
Your survival kit keep these things in your car:
- thick jumper, warm coat, boots, thick gloves, blanket, hot drink in a flask, good torch and a spade.
- if possible include a tow rope, booster cables, some sand and a solid wooden board for the jack