It’s cold, and it’s likely to get colder and wetter over the next few months or so increasing the risk of dangerous driving conditions, the potential for accidents and as a result, insurance claims.
According to the Met Office, it was the coldest December in more than thirty years. Indeed, the average temperature for the first ten days of December was three degrees below the long-term average of 4.7°C.
Current financial pressures are enough for most to cope with so and it goes wihtout saying that the last thing anyone needs during such difficult financial times, is a car accident which pushes up insurance premiums at next renewal.
Low temperatures, combined with shorter daylight hours, make driving at this time of year much trickier. In particular, a sudden temperature drop can lead to ‘black ice’ forming on ungritted roads, which is the cause of many sudden impacts.
As with most things, prevention is better than cure, so it makes sense to prepare for difficult conditions and to drive with extra caution. This is especially the case if you’re driving long distances so here are a few tips on avoiding accidents and risk of injury to you or your passengers.
1. Do not rush – no matter how late you are for your meeting or get together with friends – they will undoubtedly prefer you to get there late than not at all. Just pull up at the side of the road and call them to tell them you will be late – no big deal.
2.. It is safer to drive during daylight hours – the roads may be busier but improved visibility more than compensates.
3. Make sure that the windscreen is completely clear and clean before setting off, because you can’t drive safely if you can’t see clearly.
4. Check all four tyres are in good condition – remember, worn tyres increase stopping distances significantly and if in doubt, get them checked out.
5. Make sure that all lights are clean and working replacing faulty or blown bulbs before commencing your journey.
6. Make sure you have at least one mobile phone fully charged and operational in case of emergency. If you have one, take an in-car phone charger with you. In seriously bad weather, this could your lifeline to emergency and breakdown services.
7. Keep an emergency kit in your car, or at the very least, a torch, preferably one of those which flashes an amber light to warn other drivers of a hazard in the event of breakdown.
8. Pack some blankets if you know it is going to be particularly cold.
Some of these suggestions may be blatantly obvious, and others may seem a bit dramatic, but they have all proved valuable to others.
Basically, take as many precautions as possible to ensure your no claims bonus stays intact during any adverse driving conditions.
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