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RAC Breakdown - snow update
Thousands of motorists are facing motoring mayhem as the cold weather continues to strike. Severe weather conditions are creating treacherous driving conditions across the country. A combination of frozen rain followed by heavy snowfall is causing gridlocks in many areas and creating long delays.
Breakdowns have almost doubled and RAC Patrols have been dealing with thousands of flat batteries, frozen engines and punctures. Icy roads and abandoned vehicles mean the roads can be treacherous and may sometimes delay an RAC Patrol getting to you, but be assured help is on its way.
Always keep yourself safe this winter, avoid travelling if you can, but if you do need to venture out, make sure both you and your vehicle are ready for the journey.
Tips For Winter Driving
- If the forecast or conditions are really bad, only drive if it is absolutely necessary
- On long journeys keep you car well ventilated to prevent drowsiness and take regular breaks
- Plan your journey in advance - consult RAC Route Planner
- Keep an up-to-date roadmap in the car
- Let friends or family know where you are travelling and when you expect to arrive
- Keep a fully-charged mobile phone with you in case of a breakdown
Your vehicle
- Check your battery's condition as connections should be tight and corrosion-free. And once checked and cleaned smear the terminals with a protective barrier of petroleum jelly. Also, batteries tend to become unserviceable once they are more than three years old. So if your battery falls into this category, get it professionally checked to reduce the risk of a winter breakdown
- Check tyre pressure (including the spare), tyre tread depth (the legal minimum for cars is 1.6mm, but bigger tread depth provides more grip in the snow), oil, screen wash, coolant levels and that lights are functioning correctly
- Screen wash should be of proper concentration to prevent freezing in winter
- Anti-freeze should be added to your vehicle's cooling system inline with the manufacturer's specification
- Check front and rear wiper blades for wear or splitting. Check windscreen washers ensuring that they are adjusted correctly
- Before setting out on a journey, remove ice and snow from your vehicles windows and lights. Do not drive with a small hole cut through the ice on your windscreen - The Highway Code states that it is illegal to drive with poor visibility. Ensure you de-mist the windows properly before you drive off
- Do not use hot water from a kettle to clear your windows, as this may crack the glass
- Carry a key de-icer with you to un-freeze frozen locks
- Make sure you have enough fuel for your journey. Drivers use more fuel when driving in heavy traffic and stop/start conditions
- Watch out for gritting lorries, snow ploughs and also pedestrians who may be walking on the road rather than the pavement and adjust your speed accordingly