9/2/2010

With warnings of more wintry weather to come Carmarthenshire County Council road safety manager Keith Griffiths says there are several safety measures drivers could consider to stay safe on their journeys in adverse conditions and offers the following top 10 tips which includes carrying a bag of cat litter:

1. Know your route and keep abreast of weather conditions. Plan your route using main roads where possible. Check the weather forecast for your planned route, before departing. Keep Listening to travel news while you are on route to your destination. Local radio station are providing up to the minute information Allow extra time for your journey.

2. Make sure your vehicle is ready for your journey. Vehicle checks should include brakes, battery and electrics, fluid levels, including anti-freeze and lights. Clear all windows of snow and ice including the roof of your vehicle. Keep your fuel tank full - you may be required to change routes, halt your journey or even turn back.

3. Keep your tyres in good condition and properly inflated. Cold weather reduces tyre pressure. Check all tyres’ condition, pressure and depths. A 3mm tread is recommended for driving in winter weather.

4. Slow down. A good rule of thumb is to reduce speed by 50 percent in snowy conditions. Remember stopping distances can be up to 10 times longer on ice and snow. Equally important, don’t go too slow as your vehicle needs momentum to keep moving through snow particularly on hills

5. Eat enough food. Your body needs more nourishment in cold weather than it does on a balmy summer day. Avoid chocolate bars and other quick-sugar-release snacks. Sandwiches, fruit or a thermos of soup are much better choices. Carry a day’s worth of high-energy food, hot drinks and water in your vehicle in case you are stranded for a few hours.

6. Pack a winter travel safety kit. Include a fully charged mobile phone, de-icer and ice scraper, a tow rope, cat litter (for use as a traction aid), blankets, warm clothes and boots, a high visibility jacket, warning triangle, a first aid kit, a good torch, a portable radio and a good book.

7. Keep a light touch on the controls. Smooth operation is the key to keeping control in slippery situations. Nervousness can lead to a hard grip of the steering wheel, which can result in loss of control. Consciously loosen your grasp or stretch out your fingers from time to time to help prevent that white-knuckled grip.

8. Know how to recover from skids. If your car starts to skid you should never brake, no matter how tempting it is. When you start to lose control and skid, decelerate the best you can and steer the vehicle into the skid until the vehicle regains grip.

9. Make frequent rest stops. Winter travel is much more fatiguing than summer driving, so stop every hour or so.

10. If you get stuck, stay in your vehicle. Stay warm and wait for assistance. Make sure that your exhaust pipe is clear of any obstructions, including snow and ice; if you don’t, carbon monoxide gas can build up inside the vehicle.