Winter Driving Tips

Winter is a difficult time for the driver. The frost in the early morning and late evening, snow showers and shorter daylight hours all combine to make the driving experience harder. Regardless of how prepared your car may be, it is equally as important to modify your driving style.

Here’s some advice on safe winter driving..

Stopping distances in winter

• When roads are slippery it will take longer to stop. Up to 10 times longer.
• So, drop your speed, and give yourself more time to slow down and stop.
• Drive with care even if roads have been treated.
  

If your vehicle starts to skid:

• Depress the clutch. Do not brake!
• Turn the steering wheel into the direction of the skid.
• When the vehicle straightens, steer along the road.
  

Driving in fog

• Use dipped headlights so other drivers can see you.
• If it’s really foggy (less than 100m visibility) and you can’t see much, then switch your fog lights on. Switch them off once conditions have improved so they don’t dazzle drivers behind you.
• Fog is often patchy so try not to speed up as visibility improves. You could suddenly find yourself back in thick fog further up the road.
  

Driving through ice and snow

• Check for snow on the roof of the vehicle before you drive off. It can slip down over the windscreen and obscure your view.
• If your tyres are making virtually no noise this could be a sign you’re driving on ice.
• If your vehicle skids depress the clutch and turn the steering wheel into the direction of the skid. When the vehicle straightens steer along the road. Don’t brake – it will just lock up your wheels and you’ll skid further.

Winter Driving Tips

Hi, from the Aftersales team at Whetstone Audi.

Some top tips to keep you and your car safe this winter. Five practical steps to take. See below.

1. Ensure washer fluid is topped up with fluid able to withstand freezing temperatures. With autumn roads throwing up rain dirt you want to see clearly at all times. We have all experienced that lorry or bus that covers our windscreen with spray from wheels.
2. Wipe your headlights and tails lights with a wet wipe. You’ll be surprised how much better your lights are when they are kept clean. See and be seen!
3. Check you are running correct tyre pressures. Wrong tyre pressures cause premature tyre wear and more importantly, create unstable handling and increased braking distances.
4. Do you have enough tyre tread to stop in time. Tyres that have 3 mm of tread stop 25% quicker than tyres at legal minimum of 1.6mm. How quickly do you want to stop?
5. Does your car have the correct amount of anti freeze for a British winter? Most engine failures we see in the winter are because of low oil level or frozen engines.

Any questions? Please add your comments or questions below.

Alternatively, you can email the Service Team directly. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.