Winter Driving Guide for Traders
Driving in winter is something that every motorist has to be prepared for. The weather conditions on the road are often far from ideal and being properly prepared can make all the difference to your own safety and that of other road users. When you work in the motor trade and are often driving vehicles that do not belong to your business then it’s especially important to be prepared for winter driving. This is why motor trade insurance is so important.
Below are some key tips for traders driving in winter.
Check tyre pressure
One of the most important checks to make when driving in winter is your tyre pressure. A minimum of 3mm tread is recommended for winter driving. Some people deflate their tyres in winter believing that it provides more grip but this is simply not true. Providing you have enough tread and the overall condition of the tyres is good then you’ll be fine.
Limit use of electrical systems
When driving in winter you’ll need to make greater use of the car’s electric systems i.e. lights, fans and wipers. The reason you want to limit the use of these systems is because they put a big demand on the car’s battery. This is why breakdowns so often occur when a person has been sitting idle in their car with the lights, radio and wipers all going. If you need to clear the windscreen using the air conditioning then turn it off once the windscreen is clear. You should also be sure to turn any electrical systems off when you’re parked and don’t need to use them. This tip could easily prevent you from running a car’s battery flat and needing assistance to get it started again.
Think about visibility
One of the biggest challenges of driving in winter is impaired visibility. This is especially true when driving in snow or ice. Not only do you have to clear any excess snow or ice off the car’s windows but you also need to make sure that the windows don’t mist up while you’re driving. When driving in especially cold weather like this, it’s important to ensure the car’s hot air conditioning is available so you can clear the windscreen of condensation when you need to.
Prepare for the specific weather conditions
When it’s raining heavily, you of course need to ensure that the wipers are working perfectly and are sharp enough. When driving in hail, snow or ice, you need to ensure you can see properly from all directions. Driving in fog means you need to be sure the car’s lights are working perfectly, including brake lights and fog lights. These are checks to make before you set off.
