Taking driving precautions during winter
With winter weather now upon us and the unpredictability of weather worldwide in the last few years, many forget that taking precautions for their own safety when driving – be that in their own time or professionally – is extremely important, and in many regions, a matter of life or death.
Supplies are the first thing to remember, even if you’re just going on a short journey, as the essentials are the easiest to forget, despite being the easiest to pack, and will be the thing that could save your life should such an emergency arise. These essentials include:
- Thick warm blankets
- An ice scraper and de-icer spray for the windscreen
- A torch and a lighter
- Bottled water and for longer journeys, tinned food
All of these fairly simple supplies that should be relatively easy to find around the home can be kept in a corner of the boot (trunk).
Commercial drivers, and particularly business owners with a large fleet of vehicles at their disposal, could consider installing RAM tracking on their mobile assets in order to both ensure the safety of their staff if they break down on a job, and also be able to notify customers/clients if their delivery/meeting will be delayed, saving time and money for the company and reducing miscommunication.
Although commonplace in places with harsh winters, tyre socks are often overlooked in places where snow does sometimes hit, and are a cheap, easy to fit alternative to winter tyres. They prevent slippage on icy roads, and vans will benefit greatly from their installation.
Another piece of common sense but one that is easily forgotten in a rush is the behaviour of the driver themselves. Extra distance should be taken between vehicles on motorways (freeways) to account for longer breaking times, as should speeds on the whole.