Driving to the mountains? Here's some topical advice to keep you safe and sound.
This week's Monday Tip is aimed at those of you who drive to and into the mountains over winter and is all about the precautions you should consider taking not when you're on the hills, but when you're on the road in winter.
More Grip...
Because snow is more likely to fall on high ground, it makes a lot of sense to uprate your traction – think of it as crampons for your car. Last winter we ran a set of winter tyres from Kwikfit – see our blog – and they were superb, not just on all types of snow, but on wet, cold, slippery roads generally.
They work at 7˚C and below and are an ideal solution, particularly for anyone who goes into mountain areas regularly. They won't stop you getting caught in congestion or other people's accidents, but they will keep your wheels turning, cornering and stopping when normal 'summer' tyres are sliding and spinning uselessly.
Expensive initially, but you can off-set the price against wear saved on your normal tyres and possibly alloy wheels.
For really extreme conditions, snow chains are the answer, but they can be fiddly to fit and need to come off as soon as you hit normal tarmac again. Finally, the new generation of 'snow socks' – fabric tyre covers for your wheels – do a great job of providing temporary extra grip on snow, but use on bare tarmac will wear them out in minutes. A great stand-by solution.
In The Car
You can fit winter tyres, prepare your car meticulously for winter conditions, but there's still a chance you could get caught out by blizzards, snow drifts or a motorway blockage. A stationary car gets cold fast if you not running the engine for heating, so it's a good idea to carry warm clothing, which you may have anyway for your hill trip – but also, ideally, a warm sleeping bag or a blanket.
Keep a torch or head torch in the glovebox, stick a shovel in the boot – a lightweight avalanche one, if you have such a thing is ideal – stash some emergency rations away, possibly with a hot drink in a flask and carry a mobile phone so you can call for help if needed. A pair of walking boots is a good call as well in case you end up needing to walk somewhere in snow.
Sun reflecting off snow can be super dazzling so carry a pair of sun-glasses in the glovebox so they're at hand when needed.
Preparing The Car
Low temperatures put more demand on your electrical system, so if you're battery's getting on a bit, consider swapping it for a new one. De-ice windows and mirrors before setting off and make sure your windscreen washer fluid is concentrated enough not to freeze in really low temperatures. Your windscreen wipers are going to be working harder too, so consider replacing the blades if they're getting tired.
Common Sense
It sounds obvious, but keep an eye on weather and road conditions before setting out and during your journey if possible. Take the time to consider alternative route options in case your main route becomes impassable – high passes are often the first roads to close.
If you do get stuck, don't panic. Assess the situation, you may be able to free your car yourself, but if necessary, use your phone to call your breakdown service or the emergency services.
Don't run your engine continuously to keep warm, you may need that fuel later. And think very hard before leaving your vehicle – yes, as an outdoors person you may be better able than most to move across winter terrain, but itj's far safer to stay in your vehicle, snuggle down in your sleeping bag and wait for assistance or for conditions to improve.
Links
See RoSPA's winter driving tips: www.rospa.com
Highways Agency's winter pages: www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/333.aspx
Highways Agency traffic information: www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/traffic.aspx
BBC Travel News: www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/
AA Traffic News: www.theaa.com/traffic-news/index.jsp
