As the Winter Season begins to kick in with minus temperatures and treacherous weather conditions, it’s essential to ensure that your car is ready to take on any challenges you may face on the roads. Here at Nationwide Cars we want you to remain safe and comfortable on every journey and have compiled some tips to get you and your car winter ready.
Related: Quick Ways to De-Ice Your Car
1. Get Your Vehicle Serviced
If your car is due a service, it’s best to get this done before winter sets in. It’s statistically more likely for your vehicle to breakdown in winter than in summer so to it’s best to prevent any unnecessary breakdowns that could be avoided. By getting your car serviced you’ll ensure that your vehicle is running as smoothly and efficiently as possible which is key in cold weather.
2. Check the Battery
Checking the battery should be the first priority as damp and cold weather can put strain on the battery. With the added components of increased usage of lights, heaters and other electrical features, the battery comes under further strain. If the battery is currently struggling to start your car, it’s likely that your battery is on its last legs and will need to be changed.
3. Prepare For Long Journeys
Long journeys can be unavoidable in the winter months, so being prepared for any situations that may crop up is important. A good starting point is checking the weather forecast and travel news for any delays before you head out, so you know what to expect on the roads. Another tip is to always allocate extra time for your journey. With weather conditions being difficult, keeping your speed down helps to reduce any further issues on the road and minimises the need to rush.
4. Winter Essentials To Keep In Your Car
During difficult weather conditions, sometimes traffic jams or breakdowns are simply inescapable. To keep the wait as safe and comfortable as possible, its fundamental to keep a few essentials in your car all times.
These include: Food, water, a blanket, warm coat, phone charger, torch, map, first aid kit, shovel and spare tyre.
Related: What Should You Always Keep in Your Car?
5. Check Your Windscreen
During the colder months, existing chips and cracks tend to worsen due to cold weather. A small chip that would be simple, quicker and cheaper to fix can spread into a larger problem. To fix the bigger issue it is likely the entire windscreen would need to be replaced, which can be timely and much more expensive. A severe cracked windscreen that impairs full view of the road ahead can be highly dangerous and can increase the risk of an accident.
6. Check The Condition of Your Tyres
Worn tyres can be a serious hazard on the road as it causes poor grip and increases the chance of an accident. A car’s tyres are a critical factor to both steering and braking and is an essential aspect of the car that should always remain in good condition. It is also important to ensure the tyre tread depth is at least 1.6mm over ¾ of the tyre, to ensure the tyre fulfills its legal requirement. However, the advised tread depth for a tyre in fit condition, is recommended at 3mm. The lower the tread depth, the longer the stopping distance would need to be, so to avoid any harsh braking, it is heavily advised to check the condition of your tyres.
7. Test Your Lights
Testing all your lights on your vehicle may sound like a pointless exercise that is often overlooked. However, it is a vital factor in ensuring you stay safe as it begins to get darker at key traveling times. Firstly check all lights are clean to remove any dirt or imperfections that could impact the visibility of the lights. Secondly, check all lights are not cracked or that they contain blown bulbs. As it gets increasingly darker, earlier on in the day, it is very likely that you will be driving in the dark throughout winter. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that you are visible to other drivers on the road, as well as having the highest level of visibility while you drive.
Related: Britain's Being Caught Short With Broken Back Lights
If you’d like to purchase a new car in preparation for winter or would like more car safety advice, then don’t hesitate to contact us today via our online enquiry form.
