Why is it that every year a certain element of society seems to get a surprise that in the 'winter months' (here in Scotland - October to March) we get snow and ice and proceed to complain like hell that no-one told them about it?!?
Here's some tips for those living in the UK.
- Spring - mixed weather - frost, wind, rain, some sun and still occasionally snow.
- Summer - mixed weather - as above but in different ratios
- Autumn - ditto above
- Winter - ditto above - but more emphasis on the snow side of things
OK so now that we have established the above - what is there to moan about. Yes after snow, travel will be affected......that's a fact of life - live with it. Don't look around for people to blame if you are late for work. Remember in adverse weather conditions, someone elses husband, wife, son or daughter has to fight through the elements to get to their work in order to get the plough out to clear the road to let you get to your work...be reasonable in your expectations.
Learn to drive properly in the snow - 2-3 inches of snow on a road does not make it impassible!!!! Where I live, that's just a hairy frost....lol Six inches (that's a womans measurment - not a mans or we're back to 2-3 inches again) becomes difficult driving conditions.
You will, sorry to say, have to drive SLOWER. Set out giving yourself 3 times more time to cover your journey and still get to work on time. YES.....I said 3 times - at least!
Pre-snow Driving Tips - self reliance
- Warm up the car before you set off
- Clear all windows AND roof of car of snow (slides off roof onto windscreen when car gets hot)
- Put spare gloves, wellies, and Jacket into the car along with a shovel or brush, a travel rug, jump leads, small bag of salty/grit (yes you can buy them too instead of sitting waiting for someone else to take responsibility for you), a torch, bottle of water (to drink or use on the windscreen) and or a flask of tea and a choccy bar or something to eat in case you get stuck.
- Go and have another pee - this will be a long journey in cold weather.....lol
Snow Driving Tips
You should be relying on your gearbox not your breaks to drive in snow. The less you break, the more chance you have of staying on the road and less chance of a skid.
- Forget 1st gear unless you are going down a slope/hill - forget 5th gear unless you have a death wish.
- OK - from the starting position - select 2nd gear a bit of throttle but not too much and if you cant feel grip (traction from the ground not your buttocks in fear) select 3rd gear. You will need a bit more throttle and a bit of clutch to prevent a stall but you should get enough traction to set off.
- Once moving - no more than 10-20 miles an hour until you have got a feel for the conditions and given your tyres a chance to start getting a thaw out - cold tyres don't give you any grip. (cold rubber slidey - warm rubber tacky).
- If you needed to go into 3rd gear to set off, just stay in it for now cause at the speed you are doing there is no need to go up a gear.
- Up and Down Hills/Slopes - use your engine instead of breaks. Going up a hill - High gear for better traction. Going down a hill - Low gear and foot off throttle to slow you down (less power to engine)
Ignore other people - not in general in life....lol, but on the roads in winter. Some people will try to push you along the road - IGNORE THEM. Drive at a speed that you alone feel comfortable with and that you feel you can control. If you feel any sideways movement at all while driving, then your car is at its top speed for you controling it in the current conditions. If Mr or Mrs 4X4 or ABS braking is in a hurry, let them pass you. You can read all about their slide off the road next day in the papers. Your responsibility is to you and your family only.
And if all of the above fails.......don't moan about the weather or the authorities not nannying you. Stay at home if you don't HAVE to go out. Have extra provisions in the house pre snow just in case of emergencies and if you do get stuck out on the road, blame the person at the front of the queue who isn't following the above...........HAPPY SNOW DAYS!!!! :o)
