Top 5 tips for driving in winter

The winter is here (at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere) and with it brings a whole new set of challenges. Icy and snowy conditions make driving a much more dangerous pursuit - so here are my top 5 tips for staying safe;

5. Slow Down
Seems obvious but many people drive far too fast in the winter. Speed limits are theoretical top speeds you can legally do in good conditions and are therefore not necessarily accurate during winter! This is especially important for those of us in older vehicles without ABS and traction control but even those can produce over confidence in your cars abilities. Just remember, you cannot always see ice - so, if it's cold, it's best to assume it's there and drive accordingly.

4. Allow Time
Everyone is always in a rush these days but allowing extra time is vital in winter. This will give you enough time to defrost your car and heat it up before driving. If you don't allow time for this you will end up rushing on your journey - and therefore ignoring tip 5!

3. Defrosting Techniques
Scrapers good - water bad. That's the general rule - although it is tempting to pour hot water on your windows this will most likely result in them cracking as the two temperatures meet and take their disagreements out on your lovely expensive glass! So either a store bought scraper or, in emergencies, a credit card (be careful not to break it!) should be used - it takes time but it's a lot cheaper. Alternatively a can of de-icing fluid is awesome.

2. Skid Control
This is something I find hard to explain but is a useful skill in icy conditions. If you find yourself sliding across a road it can be a very traumatic experience - the first instinct of an untrained driver (like myself) is to turn the wheel in the opposite direction and slam on the brakes... it didn't work out too well. So, fight your instincts and try to steer into the skid, and pump the breaks (unless you're one of the luck ABS brigade) as you will not stop if the tyres are not rotating.

1. Drive Safe
Many of us pay little attention to driving to the conditions but, as well as tip 5 you should also remember that in icy conditions you should use lower gears to increase control. Also, when cornering, many people will brakes as they turn. It's always best to brake before a corner and accelerate through it but it's especially important in icy conditions where it's imperative to have power going through the wheels when cornering.
Remember: Braking is the most dangerous thing to do in the conditions so slow down!