9th January 2025

Slipping and sliding, Snow problem for Revive!

With the new year upon us it seems 2025 is opening up with a barrage of snow, sleet and ice, sending some drivers into their nearest bush, parked car or curb. Driving in winter isn’t always easy, with the colder months ahead, we thought it best to put together a winter driving guide to help you keep safe on the road and get the best out of your journeys.

Ensuring your vehicle is prepared for the difficult journeys ahead could mean the difference between getting stuck and making it home for dinner.

Vehicle Preparation:

  • Refuel the night before your journey and check the Radio/TV/Social Media for traffic and weather updates
  • Make sure you have your preferred breakdown app on your phone
  • Point dashboard air vents towards door mirrors to improve visibility in your wing mirrors
  • Check your vehicle before you leave ensuring you follow the FLOWERS Guide:
    • F= Fuel and Adblue – Before setting off on your journey, it is important to ensure that you have enough fuel to get you to your destination, allowing for increased stoppage time due to delays.
    • L= Lights – Your lights help to alert other road users to your presence and enable you to see other drivers more clearly. Make sure that your headlights, brake lights, and indicators are all functioning properly so that your journey can be completed safely.
    • O= Oil – Another simple check that you can carry out to keep yourself and others safe on the roads is checking your oil levels. You should make sure that you complete this check when the engine is cold for accurate results.
    • W= Water – Checking your lubricants, coolants and washer fluid levels before setting off will make sure that your vehicle is able to perform as safely and efficiently as possible.
    • E= Electrics – Battery issues are one of the most common reasons for callouts in the winter. Therefore, checking your battery’s health is especially important during the colder months.
    • R= Rubber – Your tyres are vital for keeping your vehicle safe. There are a number of tyre checks that you can carry out before your journey to make sure your tyres are performing at their best. These checks include: tyre pressure, checking for uneven wear, checking for sidewall damage, and ensuring that your tyres have enough tread depth. For more information on tyre care view our Aquaplaning Awkwardness article
    • S= Screen – Check your windscreen for damage.  Cracks need to be repaired before spreading and chips in the driver’s vision may impede your driving and require a repair.  Remove ice and snow from ALL windows before moving off and continue to keep them clear during your trip.  Remove as much snow as possible from your vehicle to prevent it either falling onto the windscreen, blocking your view, or falling into the path of other road users (failure to do so may result in being pulled over by traffic officers)

Driving tips for your journey

  • Leave plenty of extra time for your journey. Conditions are likely to be hazardous and will require an unhurried, controlled drive
  • Always use dipped headlights so others can see you
  • Make sure you travel at a speed that will allow you to stop within the distance you can see is clear
  • Avoid harsh breaking and acceleration or aggressive steering as this can lead to skids. Reduce your speed smoothly and use brakes gently
  • Drive in the highest gear as soon as possible, but make sure it offers engine braking when the accelerator is released. This is crucial when going down slopes or hills
  • Has everything gone quiet? A lack of road noise could indicate that you are on ice
  • Remember to increase your following distance by TEN times when driving in icy conditions

Essential Equipment

Here is a basic list of equipment we recommend everyone has in their car before departing on a journey that may incur icy or dangerous conditions.

  • High Visibility Jacket
  • De-Icer
  • Screen Wash
  • Shovel
  • Warm clothes
  • Drinking water and Food supplies
  • Mobile Phone and Charger
  • Non-Slip carpet to put under your tyres if stuck in snow

Please stay safe out on the roads this winter, nobody wants to start 2025 off with a Bang of that kind.

If you are interested in our repair services, please get in touch with our team now!

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