Saturday, December 24, 2011

Top Tips for Driving Safely this Christmas

By Simon Thompson


Everyone looks forward to driving home for Christmas. But once you set off and realise what seems like the rest of the population is doing the same, it soon becomes clear that the journey back to see your loved ones for some festive fun is not as happy and relaxing as you expected.

UK roads are extremely busy at this time of the year and because of the combination of a high concentration of traffic and wintry weather, they can also be extremely dangerous.

That's why we've decided to put together a list of top tips for winter driving and help you stay safe on the roads this Christmas.

* Tyre tread is important - The recommended tyre tread in icy or snowy conditions is 3mm, so make sure your tyres have sufficient grip before venturing out onto the road this winter. Skidding while driving on a busy motorway or A road can result in a serious accident and not only endanger yourself and your passengers but many people around you.

* Easy on the brakes - Be aware that stopping times and distances can be more than 10 times longer for cars in wintry weather. That means you should keep a safe distance behind vehicles ahead and reduce the chance of skidding by avoiding braking or accelerating too aggressively.

* Take care when braking - Stopping distances can be as much as 10 times longer in icy and snowy weather so you need to ensure you are always a safe distance behind vehicles in front and brake early and gradually when you need to. The same goes for accelerating - if you accelerate too aggressively, you could end up skidding.

* Check your tyres - It is recommended that the tread of your tyres in icy conditions is around 3mm to ensure there is enough grip on the surface of the road when driving. Check your tyres before you set off on any journeys this winter.




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