Top tips for winter driving

Bury Council’s road safety team is urging drivers to make sure that both they and their vehicles are ready for the winter weather.

Motorists are advised to check their vehicle regularly, carry an emergency kit, and adapt their driving style to suit the changing conditions.

Safer winter driving top tips:

Check your car before a journey

·  Ensure that your tyres are at the correct pressure and that they are within the legal guidelines for the correct depth of tread (At least 1.6mm).

·  Check your lights and wipers are working correctly.

·  Keep your lights clean as they can get dirty from the spray off the road.

For more regular car maintenance checks, remember the word FLOWER – Fuel, Lights, Oil, Water, Electrics, Rubber.

Carry an emergency kit

Your emergency kit should contain the following items:

·  Shovel

·  First aid kit

·  Torch

·  Warm clothes and a blanket

·  Ice scraper and de-icer

·  Battery jump leads

·  Food and a warm drink

·  Sunglasses, to reduce the glare from low-lying winter sun

It is also useful to carry a mobile phone. However, it is illegal to use a handheld mobile phone while driving, with the penalty being a £60 fine and three points on your licence. Although it is legal to use a hands free kit the dangers are the same and you can still be found liable for causing an incident on the road.

Officers also advise people to avoid travelling is the weather is particularly bad, and to check traffic and weather reports before setting off.

For more information and advice, see http://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3650

ENDS

Press release issued: 10 December 2013.