TOP CAR SAFETY TIPS
The alarm bells have been sounded that Britain is on a winter whiteout alert with a ‘major weather change' due threatening a ‘Beast from the East’ mega-freeze. So here are some top tips to prepare your car for these winter conditions from the automotive experts at
claims.co.uk , including what to do if you get involved in an accident!
TOP TIPS TO GET ANY CAR READY FOR WINTER
Check your tyre tread depth The minimum legal tread depth on your car tyre is 1.6mm in the UK, however during the winter that won’t suffice. The RAC recommends 3mm of tread on all four tyres to counter the potential loss of traction from slippery road surfaces.
Be sure every outside light on your car works From headlights and brake lights to front and rear fog lights, be sure that every light functions correctly and appears bright. The lights should be checked each time you drive the car. On dark nights with inclement weather, bright lights serve to guide you towards your destination, as well as to alert other road users to your presence.
Keep your washer fluid topped up Keeping your windscreen washer fluid at the optimum level is necessary for winter driving. Road grit, mud, slush, and leaves are prevalent in the colder months, all of which can stick to your windscreen and inhibit your ability to see clearly. If windscreen wipers don’t remove the detritus, safely pull over and clear it yourself. It’s never safe to proceed with partial visibility.
Lubricate door locks and hinges Take a store-bought industrial lubricant such as a silicone spray and apply it to all doors and locks on the car. This prevents any of the mechanisms from failing to open in the morning, meaning you can access the vehicle. Also recommended is to spray the silicone lubricant on the bonnet hinges and the catch, just in case you need to inspect your engine or top off fluids at a later date.
Store a survival pack in the boot of your car If you become stuck at any point on your journey,
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having a selection of items in the boot of your car can be critical to your safety. Basics such as high visibility jackets, a small spade, a windscreen ice scraper, a torch, a first aid kit, a large bottle of water and snacks, and finally warm blankets and clothing. Together, this survival pack will serve you very well as you await rescue.
Ensure your windscreen is fully clear before setting off Never undertake even short journeys with your windscreen still icy. Use an ice scraper or the car’s inbuilt windscreen heater to fully clear your view. If you find that those options aren’t working for you, use either a store-bought antifreeze or a homemade solution, consisting of 1/3 water and ⅔ isopropyl (rubbing alcohol). This should clear your windscreen very quickly!
TOP TIPS TO GET YOUR EV READY FOR WINTER
Plan your journeys! In temperature extremes, EV’s perform notably worse than normal, at roughly 80% efficiency compared to normal. Plan your routes and consider if you’ll need easy access to a charge point or not. Recovery services offer EV-specific assistance, however their roadside charging time is very long. Avoid the wait and aim to stay as fully charged on your journeys as possible.
Pre-condition the car batteries Modern electric vehicles have a pre-conditioning setting for the batteries. What that means is starting the car and letting it warm up for about half an hour before you depart. If you do this while plugged in at home, you won’t lose any battery charge either! Battery preconditioning gives you more driveable range too.
DECEMBER 2022 PHTM
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