Winter Driving - Be prepared

“…Steamy windows, Steamy window, Zero visibility, yeah Steamy windows…”.

 

What a great Tina Turner song!

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Of course I’m playing on words here. Winter driving involves more than just steamy windows. Frozen screens and filthy light lenses are commonplace at this time of year. All of that mud and grit that gets thrown up onto your vehicle without you noticing, which can make progress tricky and potentially very dangerous – particularly at night.

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You would imagine it was stating the obvious, but how many times when we’re in a hurry, or late, do we see individuals jump into their car, clear the bare minimum of condensation or ice from the windscreen and start off on their journey?

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“Oh I’m just popping down to the doctors’ surgery and I’m running a bit late” they might say. If they’re unlucky then they – or worse still – a pedestrian or other road user, will end up being transferred to an ambulance for the remainder of their journey – to a hospital…..well to the hospital car park at least whilst the injured party waits hours to be attended to in A&E. And all because an extra five minutes wasn’t spent ensuring their vehicle was safe and ready to start on that journey!

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I’m surprised at the number of car owners who don’t have the essential tools to hand, to clear and prepare the car properly before starting their journey:

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• A decent sized scraper with a rubber blade and sponge, to clear ice as well as condensation on the outside of windows.

• A pack of wet-wipes to clear the dirt and grime from your lights – front and rear. And don’t forget the number plates. Wipes are also handy to clean your hands afterwards.

• A couple of rags for general use when checking fluid levels under the bonnet. This is prime time for running out of windscreen wash, which I recommend is mixed to a 50:50 level with anti-freezing solution. Personally I prefer to buy the concentrated version and dilute it myself.

• A couple of good quality cloths and/or chamois blocks to clear the condensation from inside the car.

 

None of it is expensive, so there’s no excuse.

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I am aware that some fluids are no longer accessible to check levels from under the bonnet. Engine oil is one case in point in a number of more modern cars. So it becomes imperative that you make yourself aware of the screen controls and options inside your car(s) so that the information you need can be retrieved and displayed.

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You’ll hopefully have seen the good advice of NOT using hot water to clear ice from your screen. Instead carry some de-icer with you for the windows. Maybe also get one of those screen protectors that you can tuck into your front doors to keep your windscreen clear overnight.

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There is another article here that talks about (not) leaving your vehicle idling. Not only is it illegal on public highways, it also doesn’t actually do your vehicle much good. So have another read of that piece as well. However, a minute or so with the blowers going is not going to do any harm and ensures you have clear screens inside and out to start your journey.

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Also, don’t forget the IAM acronym ‘POWDERY’. You should be doing at least a cursory inspection of the outside of your vehicle prior to every journey and I recommend checking under the bonnet more regularly throughout the winter months – every couple of weeks is a reasonable guide.

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Consider popping a blanket or two in the car as well, just in case the worst happens and your vehicle does breakdown – or you get stuck in a traffic jam.

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Other things you might wish to think about are some jump leads. You never know when you might forget to turn off your lights when you’ve reached your destination. Or how about that immensely satisfying moment when you can reply to someone else “Yes, I have some jump leads you can use…”.

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This is by no means an exhaustive list of things to consider, but hopefully provides a guide towards the more important things to consider every time you jump into the driving seat