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Be a confident driver this winter
Posted on Nov 07, 2022
Car insurance is not only a legal requirement, but it can be very helpful for breakdown recovery and collisions caused by bad weather. It’s not a miracle worker though, and the best car insurance policy in the world can’t prevent you from running into problems in the first place.
Give yourself the best chance of a smooth journey whatever the winter weather throws at you with this advice from Watkin Davies Insurance Consultants Ltd.
Get your car winter ready
This doesn’t mean fitting a snowplough, but cold snaps can put a lot further strain on your vehicle. Just a few tweaks and top ups here and there can help you see your car through the colder weather.
Tyres – Shallow tread and wet or icy conditions do not mix well. Check your treads and look for any cracks and bulges which may signal the need for a new tyre. If you live somewhere remote that’s prone to heavy snowfall, you might want to consider winter tyres for greater control and traction, or snow socks – stretchy fabric covers that slip over the two drive wheels for added grip on snow and ice.
Battery – Car batteries can become flat if your car is not driven for a while, but especially suffer in cold damp weather where they have to work that much harder to start the engine on a cold morning. Check your battery on a weekly basis during the winter months.
Heaters, ipods and sat navs can drain the battery quickly if left on when the engine’s not running, so it’s best to switch them off before switching off your engine and keep them off when you come to re-start your car.
Wiper blades – If you want your wiper blades to withstand heavy rain, snow, and hail to keep your windscreen clear, they need to be in good order. These are cheap to replace and easy to change, and vital for your visibility. Use lukewarm water to part them from a frozen windscreen to avoid unnecessary damage.
Essential solutions – If you’re setting off on a long journey, you need to make sure you have plenty of fuel, sufficient oil, coolant, screen wash and anti-freeze. You don’t know how long you may get held up in bad weather or heavy traffic, and by checking all these solutions you’ll further avoid becoming stranded through lack of fuel, a frozen engine, and poor visibility.
Your winter emergency kit
Stock up on the essentials before winter sets so you have them to hand just in case.
Your emergency kit should include:
- Ice scraper and de-icer
- Torch and spare batteries – or a wind-up torch
- Warm clothes and blankets
- Boots
- First aid kit
- Jump start cables
- Food and a warm drink in a thermos
- Shovel
- Reflective warning sign
- Road atlas
- Sunglasses for snow glare
- Phone charger
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