subject: Preparation Is Key For Winter Driving [print this page] Learning to drive in all conditions is important. If you are somebody who took their lessons during the summer and never had to experience snow with a qualified instructor, it can be a terrifying time. Do not hide away in your house or force yourself to wait in the freezing cold for a bus, you should face your fears and learn something new.
Living in the UK opens you up to a wide range of weather, seasons are not really seasonal anymore with sun in October and heavy rain in July, nothing is predictable. Before heading out in heavy down pours of rain or inches of snow, there are ways to prepare your car that will make you feel comfortable and know that you are ready to face these weather types.
If it is the weekend then this is as good timing as you are going to get as it allows you plenty of time to check over your car before having to head out for work on Monday morning. Make sure to check the weather forecast, even though it can be wrong it is better to use their predications than to wake up late. If it has happened on a morning that you start work or need to be somewhere then you will have gotten up a bit earlier allowing you time to check over anything and to set off a bit earlier in case of heavy traffic.
You should check your coolant level and top it up with specified antifreeze to make sure you have great protection against the cold temperatures. Batteries should be checked, especially if it is coming up to its 5th birthday as they do not usually last long after this point, even more so during winter time. Make sure you tyres have a 3mm or at least 2mm tread depth, that your wind screen is fully clear, that you have working wiper blades in case of more rain or snow fall and that you have a good amount of fuel in your car.
Always prepare for the worst weather possible and just hope that it gets better, so make sure that yourself and your passengers are dressed warmly just in case your car happens to breakdown and you have to leave the vehicle. Wearing sensible footwear is essential; a good pair of thick boots will keep your feet warm. It is also a good idea to keep a spare pair of shoes in case yours get wet; you need to have maximum control on the pedals in these conditions particularly. These are just some of the ways you can prepare, you can find lots of information online and also by asking other people for their tips, just make sure that you feel happy with what you have checked over before setting off.
