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Make sure your motor’s safe for winter

As the winter weather approaches motorists can take a few simple steps to ensure that their vehicles are as safe as possible to take out on the roads.

Maintenance is the key factor – make sure your vehicle is well maintained and serviced. Ensure the brakes, tyres, lights, batteries, windscreens and wipers are in good condition, check that the engine coolant levels are topped up and contain the recommended levels of anti-freeze.

Keep a supply of de-icer in the vehicle and ensure that the windscreen and mirrors are properly defrosted and cleared before setting off. If it’s been snowing, make sure you clear the snow off the roof and bonnet of your vehicle so that it can’t slip down or blow up onto the windscreen while you are travelling. Make sure you’ve got a cloth handy to clear windows and mirrors if they begin to steam up.

Bear in mind that visibility is considerably reduced when driving in fog, heavy rain, snow, and hail, so increase your distance from the vehicle in front and use dipped-beam headlights at these times. Sidelights are ineffective in most conditions and should not be relied on.

Wet and frosty or icy roads greatly increase stopping distances, so make sure you reduce your speed in plenty of time when approaching junctions or queues of traffic.

If you are not confident driving during bad weather conditions, stay at home or use public transport instead. If you do choose to drive, make sure that you take warm clothing and a flask containing a hot drink, a charged mobile phone and a shovel in case you get stuck. Make sure you’ve got plenty petrol. Check the forecast before you set out on your journey and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.

Aberdeen City Council is keeping members of the public up to date with salting and snow clearance operations on its website at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/gritting The council has record levels of salt in stock this year.

The council has published a Winter Advice leaflet which gives guidance about motoring during the winter months. These leaflets are available from libraries, community centres and Marischal College.

Local and national TV and radio stations and text services provide a useful source of information for motorists and travellers during inclement weather conditions. For general information on main and trunk roads visit the Traffic Scotland website at www.trafficscotland.org

The Scottish Government has created a website to help people prepare for the winter weather. Ready Scotland (www.ReadyScotland.org) contains practical advice and the simple steps people can take to protect themselves, their families, their communities and their businesses from the worst effects of all kinds of bad weather.

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