Are you ready for winter driving?
07/11/2011

Another harsh winter has been forecast – and the Highways Agency is urging road-users to make sure they are prepared.

In the event of severe weather, consider whether your journey is essential. But, if you need to travel there are some simple steps that can reduce the risk of being caught out:

•    Be informed – just a few minutes checking the weather forecast and traffic reports for your journey could make all the difference

•    Be prepared – check your vehicle is ready for winter too – and carry an emergency kit

•    Be aware – give the Highways Agency time to do their job – by planning your journey around the weather it allow their crews the time and space they need to get ahead of you and keep the network clear for you

•    Be wise – conditions may change, drive with care.

Remember, it's not only snow and ice that can affect journeys during the winter season, but strong winds, heavy rain, and thick fog too!  For more information on the Agency's winter campaign, its journey planning and information services, and a list of items to carry in your emergency kit, visit the Highways Agency's website at: www.highways.gov.uk/winter

(The Highways Agency is responsible for the road network in England, but their winter journey advice is useful, wherever you are in the UK).

Comments

Posted By BC on 03/01/2012 09:57:50

A number of tests have shown that winter tyres significantly improve braking distances and cornering in road conditions of 7 degrees celcius and below. Look at these videos http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/winter-tyres/videos They show winter tyre tests carried out by Goodyear and Tyresafe.

Posted By Anonymous on 17/11/2011 14:40:28

this is good

Posted By trevor milne on 07/11/2011 15:32:52

I thought I'd share my thoughts on using winter tyres with anyone considering making the investment for this years forecast harsh winter. Firstly I'd recommend acting ASAP, like many people I only had the notion once the weather was severe, not suprisingly when this happens tyres are difficult to get hold of, prices increase and options for best brands reduce. I would also urge caution in the temptation to buy secondhand tyres off ebay, quite often you'll see the ad claiming that the tyres have 4mm tread remaining, on summer tyres this would be no problem as the legal minimum requirement is 2mm, however there's a good reason they are selling at 4mm of tread, in European contries where winter tyres are a legal requirement there is usually an additional requirement that the tread is a minimum of 4mm. So that said I can only suggest that the tyres on Ebay are imported from these countries once deemed no good, as un-educated in these matters we british are fooled into thinking we're getting good tyres. I'm not affiliated to the tyre industry an have no expert knowledge, so please take my comments on face value as they are based upon my experience trying to find winter tyres last year. In the end I dug deep into my pockets and bought new Michellin winter tyre which I fitted to a spare set of steel wheel, the tyres cost circa £240 + £100 for steel wheels (ebay) + £30 fitting, so in total the thick end of £400 for 4 tyres. So the key question 'was it worth it' - well the only way I can answer that is by saying I didn't have any accidents and I felt much less nervous when the weather changed. Finally it should be said that with rotation of the tyre back to my summer set (once the average temperature exceeds 7 degs C) I'm expecting to get 4 winters out of them, £100 per year for peace of mind - you decide!

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