As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, we find ourselves adapting to the winter months. This often includes a change in wardrobe and a greater reliance on central heating but it’s easy to forget how the winter also affects driving. Owning and using a vehicle, comes with its own inherent risks and responsibilities but the colder months can offer up unique problems. Whether it’s snow, ice, frost or heavy rain, winter weather can play havoc with your vehicle and your ability to drive it.
With this in mind, what are some tips to ensure that your vehicle is winter ready, ahead of the upcoming season.
Servicing
Manufacturers recommend that a vehicle is serviced either once a year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Servicing provides peace of mind that every aspect of your vehicle is in full working order, allowing you to catch potential problems, before they become worse. Servicing is particularly important during the winter months as components such as the car battery or wiper blades will be under extra strain and are more likely to fail. Therefore, getting your vehicle checked over by experts will ensure that you avoid any nasty accidents.
Wiper Blades
Talking about wiper blades, these work overtime during the winter, due to high winds, rain, snow, ice and road salt. Considering window wipers are vital for visibility, and visibility can be patchy during the winter, regular checks are extremely important. Experts recommend changing your wiper blades every 12 months, or whenever you notice an issue. You want to look out for any cracks in the blades themselves or slow movements during use.
Topping Up
There are a variety of fluids which must be topped up regularly, in order to ensure the proper running of your vehicle. Of course, when we think of topping up the car, we think of replacing oil. This involves checking levels using a dipstick and topping up if necessary. In terms of driving during the colder months, both your coolant and screen wash are particularly important. Coolant is a combination of water and anti-freeze which stops your engine from freezing up. Screen wash helps your window wipers to do their job, again aiding in visibility.
Tyres
During the winter, motorists can face difficult road conditions, from heavy rain, snow and ice. It’s therefore particularly important to make sure that your tyres are in good condition. For example, drivers should ensure that their tyres have the correct air pressure and if not, they can increase pressure by using designated devices, either at garages or at home.
Another aspect of tyre health is durability and tread, which is vital on wet or icy roads. You can use a specialist tool or simply a 20p coin to measure your tyre treads, to ascertain whether your tyres are balding. If you find that the tread has worn down too much, it may be time to replace your tyres.
Winter Kit
When it comes to road safety, it’s better to be over-prepared, than underprepared and this is where an emergency kit is vital. Of course, what you choose to include in this survival kit will be unique to your circumstances but there are some standard essentials which everyone should aim to have. These include, a first aid kit, blankets, food and water, jump leads, coolant and de-icer. The majority of drivers will never need to use these items but for those that do, they can be lifesaving.
Those who drive for a living will be aware of the potential dangers on the road and the majority will factor in regular precautions. However, with so much to worry about, it can be easy for drivers to feel overwhelmed. Don’t let finances be yet another worry on the list. The experts at U-Deliver can provide accountancy and tax services, specifically targeted towards those who drive for a living. Feel free to visit the U-Deliver website to find out more.
