February 05, 2024 - 422 views
With this week expected to bring a return of freezing weather conditions, insurer and rural road safety campaigner NFU Mutual is warning motorists to avoid taking unnecessary risks and adjust their driving to prevent accidents.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow for North Wales, the Midlands and north of England, beginning Thursday, with as much as 20cm of snow possible in higher areas, though the forecaster has stated there can be little certainty in when or where snow will fall.
Snow and ice make road conditions significantly more deadly, reducing visibility and increasing stopping distances, and sudden periods of cold weather often lead to a spike in car insurance claims.
NFU Mutual, which campaigns on rural road safety and recently announced plans to create a Code for Countryside Roads, warns that isolated rural roads can be made particularly treacherous in icy or snowy conditions.
Andrew Chalk, rural road safety specialist at NFU Mutual, said: "With snow and ice forecasted for large parts of the UK this week, we're concerned that complacent motorists could be putting themselves or others in danger by not adjusting their driving accordingly.
"In snowy or icy weather, it is imperative to give fellow road users more space than usual, leaving larger stopping distances and slowing down appropriately at corners.
"Low winter sun, ice and compacted snow create a perfect storm, reducing visibility at the same time as reducing control of the vehicle, so take your time and remain patient with other road users.
"As a campaigner on rural road safety, we particularly want to warn people of the risk of rural roads in this weather. In our 2023 Rural Road Safety Report, we asked road users for their biggest concerns when it comes to rural road safety. Around two thirds were worried about blind corners with over half concerned about narrow, winding roads and poor road quality, with 46% worried about poor visibility. Unfortunately, these are the very factors which are made worse in the snow and ice.
"With accidents on rural roads causing 72% more deaths than those on urban roads, we're imploring all road users to take seriously the threat of icy or snowy weather on rural roads, and to follow our advice below."
Before setting off
Avoid using your vehicle unless you have to. If a trip can be put off until a safer time, it is best to do so.
Plan your journey before you leave, checking weather forecasts for badly hit areas and making sure your route sticks to main roads as much as possible.
Pack your car with winter-ready screen wash, de-icer, an ice scraper and sunglasses to combat low winter sun.
Prepare for the possibility of getting stuck, packing some spare warm clothes, a blanket, a charged mobile phone and torch, and some water and snacks.
Tell family and friends where you are going and when you expect to arrive.
Ensure your vehicle’s wiper fluid is topped up.
Ensure your vehicle’s tires are at the correct pressure.
Make sure your headlights and foglights are working and you know how to operate them.
Thoroughly de-ice and de-fog windows and remove snow from the roof of the vehicle.
While driving
Drive slowly and steadily and leave larger gaps between vehicles. Icy conditions can increase stopping distances by ten times.
Avoid braking suddenly, slowing down gently before corners and junctions.
Accelerate slowly, keeping revs low to avoid wheelspin.
Drive in as high a gear as possible to avoid wheelspin.
Take care coming up to junctions where road markings may be covered by snow or frost.
Don’t use cruise control in icy or snowy conditions.
