Driving In Bad Weather Conditions and Basic Car Maintenance

Car Maintenance in Weather Conditions - British weather can be testing at times. It also adds to difficulty when driving & the effect that it has on the maintenance of our cars. Despite the various weather conditions we can experience throughout the winter months, there are many forethoughts that you should have in mind before setting off anywhere. Click4Warranty would like to make all motorists aware of the following essential driving and safety knowledge, so as to keep the vehicle they drive on a regular basis in good condition between regular servicing & MOT's.

When buying a used car we recommend that you investigate whether or not used car warranty cover would be something you may need. There are many different warranty products on the market and it is important that you thoroughly investigate the pro's and con's of each type and the level of cover they provide. Now moving swiftly on to car maintenance and what you should know to help keep your car in top shape.

Always ensure that you & your vehicle are well prepared to travel. Make sure you have sufficient fuel, you use more fuel when driving in heavy traffic and stop/start conditions. Listen to the weather reports well in advance of your journey. If the forecast isn't good, then, only drive if you have to. If you do drive, be prepared for anything. It sounds daft, but ensure that your breakdown cover is up to date, especially if you are traveling abroad, your policy will need to cover that. Travel with suitable food & drinks, maps & spare clothing, waterproofs & sensible footwear, consider taking a first aid kit & torch, along with a spade & scraper too. Take breaks at regular intervals. Plan your journey carefully, drive only during daylight off peak hours, avoiding any diversions or hot spot areas, ensure that someone knows the route that you will be taking & when you expect to arrive. Where possible use major routes, which may have been gritted/salted. Side roads which tend not to be treated may be blocked. In a breakdown situation it will be much harder to call for help and for assistance to get to you. Continue to listen to local bulletins as you travel, change onto local stations frequently. Ensure that your mobile is fully charged, but only use it in accordance with road safety laws. If your vehicle is in a serviced condition great. Otherwise, it maybe advisable, to have it done earlier than planned.

It may also be worth considering taking further equipment e.g. jump leads, but ensure that you know how to use them properly & safely. A good tow rope, or refer to the owner's handbook for details of inbuilt guides. Long life, spare batteries for other equipment that you have packed. An accident pack, especially a warning triangle are always handy, it warns others & may enable a quicker rescue for you. Fire extinguishers are unlikely but in some case a possibility. Don't consider snow chains, unless you are in a specific area that has prolonged heavy snow fall; Scotland for example. Chains only to be used in deep snow. Always take a spare fuel can & spare bulbs for your lights.

Good driving practice is always to observant at all times, it helps you to react faster in changing environmental conditions. Use your mirrors, look & listen in front, behind & peripherally. Don't assume that others can see you. Use your lights & indicators correctly, giving ample fore warning of your intentions. Never drive too close to another vehicle & always make eye contact if at all possible. Pay attention at all times, it may stop an incident occurring. Always watch your speed, limits are there for a reason and speed kills. Ensure that your stopping distances are sufficient, bad weather conditions will need them to be increased. Drive according to the environment, are you in the town? More hazards are apparent, therefore you should be more cautious. Slow down when you enter areas with schools & other dense pedestrian areas. Always stop at crossings, it is not your right of way.

It is a frequent occurrence in the UK, therefore it is important that we don't forget & become complacent under these conditions. In the first instance of rain, it combines with fuel spilt on the road, soot, dust, and debris from tyres and cars, and the result can be a slick road surface that can lead to the driver slipping and sliding all dangerously all over the road. You must drive slower, as the tyres have far less grip than in the dry. Traveling too fast in wet weather can also result in what is known as aquaplaning. This happens when a layer of water forms between the road surface and your tyres, they are then not touching the road and it is possible that you will loose control over your steering and braking. With this is mind, it is important to remember to increase your stopping distances, possibly as much as to double your stopping distances in heavy rain. When braking, reduce the pressure on the pedals. When slowing down, ease off your accelerator and slow down gradually to avoid skidding and losing control. By braking hard, quickly, it will increase the likelihood of you going into an uncontrollable skid. Turn on the headlights, enabling you to see easier & others to see you. Remember that rain and spray makes it hard to see so keep well back, & be prepared for the possibility of crosswinds on open stretches of road or bridges.

Firstly, don't drive unless your journey is absolutely necessary. If you do have to drive, plan your journey to avoid flooded areas and make sure you allow plenty of time. Don't try to drive over a flooded road, try another route if possible. It is possible that 2 feet of water, moving quickly, is enough to float a car & slow moving water is capable of sweeping a car off a road or bridge. If you are in your car and water begins to rise rapidly around you, abandon the vehicle immediately. If you really do have to drive through floodwater, stop and assess the shallowest part, the deepest water is usually nearest the kerb. move slowly in first gear, keeping the engine speed high to prevent it stalling and to keep water from backing up the exhaust, otherwise major engine damage may occur if water is "sucked up" into the engine air intake system. After you have passed through the water test your brakes to make sure it's safe to drive at your usual speed.

Fortunately this is a condition that we do not experience on a regular basis in the UK. However, because of this, it is extremely dangerous. The first fall of snow is the most dangerous if the roads haven't been gritted, but ice is even worse because sometimes you can't see it. If water runs onto the road, or forms a pool, it will turn to black ice, and this is difficult to spot, especially on corners and roundabouts where it is shadowed. Again, only drive if you have to. Before you set off, ensure that your car is fully defrosted & any snow if taken off your vehicle. Ensure that you can see in your mirrors clearly., that your lights are clear and are not covered by snow. Drive with extra care, keeping your speed down, paying attention to your stopping distances. It will take you longer to stop in these conditions. Second gear when pulling away, & easing your foot off the clutch gently, will help to avoid a wheel-spin If possible, when you start driving, find a quiet, safe, place as soon as you can and brake gently, testing your grip on the road. If the roads are icy drive slowly in a high gear and take extra care on bends, try not to overtake. Only brake progressively as you approach & get into a low gear early when you need to stop and brake gently. Be careful of gritters & ploughs, it's best to stay well back and only overtake if the road ahead has been cleared and you're certain it's absolutely safe. Be particularly careful on corners, bends and roundabouts, just in case there is ice on the roads, remember, you may not be able to see it. In the event of you skidding, try not to panic and not to brake, depress the clutch and turn the steering wheel into the direction of the skid. When the vehicle straightens, steer along the road. Try to maintain a constant speed, choosing the most suitable gear before, avoid having to change down while climbing a hill, if driving downhill, choose, third or fourth gear to prevent skidding. If you do get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels. Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give grip. Once on the move again, try not to stop until you reach better ground.

If you're out in fog, take extra care as it can change in a split second, be sensible. As you approach a foggy patch, start to slow down and check your mirrors, star to brake gently, to warn others behind you. Only use, dipped headlights and fog lights if your visibility is poor, as full beam will reflect back off the fog. Do remember, to switch off your fog lights when the foggy spell is over as it is an offence to use fog lights in clear conditions & is also extremely annoying to other drivers. Always keep an eye on your speed. For instance, if you can only see 40 feet or less, in front of you, then you need to bring your speed down to 20mph. Always be wary of other drivers that are not using headlights & adhering to safety precautions.

Check all of your tyres, including the spare & changing equipment, pay attention to the tread depth as well as the pressure. The law states that tyres must have 1.6mm of tread depth across the centre 3/4 of the width of the tread throughout the entire circumference of the tyre. At least 3mm of tread is recommended for winter motoring, and certainly no less than 2mm. However, there are tread wear indicators to help you. They are small ribs across the bottom of the main tread grooves. When the tread surface becomes level with these ribs the tyre is at the legal limit and must be replaced. The correct tyre pressures for your car are usually found near the drivers' door. Your tyres must be at the recommended pressure to ensure optimum tread contact with the road. Don't reduce pressures, it reduces stability & grip. Check that the jack and wheel brace are working. Do you know how to change a tyre? You could also consider changing to winter or all season tyre, these prevent the tyres hardening at lower temperatures, and gives better grip in cold wet conditions.

Check your brakes and brake fluid twice a year to make sure everything is in order. If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS) keep an eye on your dashboard indicator.

Check that all the bulbs are working and that headlights are clean and positioned correctly. Ensure that your registration plate & brake lights are clean & visible. They must comply with any legal requirements. The lenses must be free from any damage such as cracks or missing glass or plastic. Ensure that your windscreen is clean inside and out to help your vision. Any scratches, abrasions and chips on the outside can also worsen the dazzling effect of the sun. Check the windscreen wipers and replace if necessary. When switching off the engine, ensure that the wipers are off too when there's risk of freezing. If you don't and the blades freeze to the screen, you could damage the blades or wiper motor when you turn the ignition on. Do not use warm water from a kettle to de ice, this will result in a cracked windscreen. Do not drive with a small hole cut through the ice on your windscreen.

Windscreen washer fluid should be topped up and treated with a proprietary additive to reduce the chance of freezing in frosty weather. Always keep a spare bottle when traveling. Air conditioning can be used for faster demisting and helping to reduce condensation on cold windows. Always clear snow from the roof as well as from windows. Snow piled up on the roof can fall onto the windscreen obscuring your view and can also be a hazard to other road users.

You don't need to be a mechanic to do the simple checks under the bonnet. Check the oil is at a satisfactory level. Check also the water levels. Ensure they are topped up correctly. Pay particular attention to the anti-freeze content of the cooling system. Check your owner's handbook for details on the recommended anti freeze to use, if in doubt, go to a garage. It's usually a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water in the cooling system is needed in winter. This gives maximum protection down to -34° centigrade, and without it, severe engine damage can occur. Make sure the fan belt has good tension and in good condition. If not, have it changed. Always ensure that the ignition key is removed from the vehicle before checking this.

Check the battery. Batteries rarely last longer than five years, so replacing them near the end of their life can save a lot of time and inconvenience. Avoid running car electrics any longer than necessary, turn the heater fan down and switch the heated rear window off once windows are clear. When you're starting up the car ensure that non-essentials like lights, rear screen heater and wipers are turned off. Check the battery for corrosion and make sure the terminals are clean and dry, any white liquid showing is a bad sign, so get it changed.

Always keep your distance if you are towing a caravan, boat or trailer & double check your insurance beforehand. Make sure you are aware of the towing speeds & stick to them. Try not to overload your car with luggage & ensure that all roof rack luggage is well secured or better still get a secure roof box. Ensure all dashboard warning lights operate correctly. If not, consult your owner's handbook or call your local dealer.

Inspect your car keys for wear & tear, replacing if necessary. Remember, a worn key will quickly wear out a lock barrel causing the lock to jam. Make sure you have a spare set of keys for your car in a safe place. This also applies to alarm fobs. It is worth noting that batteries in the fob will also require replacement at least twice a year, to maintain operating performance.

Copyright © 2008 Click4Warranty
The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily held by the Click4Group unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.

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