Check you're safe this winter
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Artic conditions have made driving treacherous in recent days. With more winter weather predicted in many areas around the UK, make sure your drivers are prepared for winter conditions by following Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions’ simple check list.
Checklist for safe winter driving
- Antifreeze - in cold weather antifreeze is essential for protecting your car against frost damage. Make sure you have the correct strength, a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water is recommended
- De-icer – make sure you keep a can of de-icer and an ice scraper in your car
- Oil and water – ensure you check oil and water levels regularly. You should refer to your vehicle’s manual for reference
- Windscreen wash – check you can see clearly by checking your windscreen wash regularly. It is an offence to drive with an empty windscreen washer
- Windscreen wipers – look at all wiper blades to check they are not worn or damaged. If they smudge it is time to change them
- Lights - check all lights are in working order. Check your front and rear fog lights too; and only use these when visibility is reduced to around 100 metres. Don’t forget to switch them off when visibility improves
- Tyres – regularly examine your tyres for signs of uneven wear and cuts or small nicks. Check tyre pressures and the tread depth, it should be a minimum of 3mm
- Breakdown service – check you have details of your emergency breakdown service card in your purse, wallet, or handbag. Remember to add the number to your mobile phone
- Mobile phone – ensure that your phone is fully charged and that you have sufficient credit to make a call if you need to. Remember it is illegal to use a hand held mobile phone whilst driving
- Essential items – check that you have warm gloves, a blanket, a small shovel, a torch and some cash in case of emergencies. In poor weather, ensure your fuel is topped up. A full tank will ensure you have enough fuel if you have to make an unexpected detour or need to keep your engine running to keep warm
