Are You and Your Car Ready for Winter in Croydon

The severe winter weather of the past two years caught the whole country unawares.  Are we prepared for the possibility of more snowfall this year?

Motoring and safety organisations constantly appeal and give warnings, via the news channels, not to venture out in these conditions unless the journey is ‘essential’. However, people's perception of what constitutes 'essential' varies widely. At times it is unavoidable not to venture out onto the roads in severe weather conditions ... there’s not much you can do if you're a few hours from home when it starts. But the motto should be:

‘If in doubt, don’t drive out!’

Finding yourself stuck in hazardous weather conditions when you are on your way to the gym is not only unwise, as it puts others at risk. Getting to work, picking children up from school and shopping are all normal journeys that may have to be reconsidered in bad weather conditions. Walking, public transport, car sharing or taking a taxi all reduce the risk of you finding yourself in a potentially dangerous situation.

Activ Croydon’s Top Tips for Winter Driving

With the experience of helping to rescue over half a million stranded and broken down drivers in last winter’s severe weather, Britain’s motor organisations provide the following general advice for safe and trouble free driving through the cold, dark months ahead.

Tyres

Tyres need plenty of tread to clear water, and snow. The legal limit is 1.6mm, but at this time of year it is better to change tyres when the tread reaches a depth of 3mm. Consider fitting Winter tyres.

Battery

Modern batteries provide more power, but take a long time to recharge fully. A regular long run with the minimum of electrical accessories switched on, is needed. If that's not possible, invest in an 'intelligent' battery charger. These are lightweight, easy to use and switch off when the battery is fully charged, so there is no danger of overcharging – an intelligent charger is a great way of keeping the battery topped-up if you have to leave the car unused for several weeks too. Avoid running electrical systems any longer than necessary – turn the fan down and switch the heated rear window off once the windows are clear. Use the starter in short five-second bursts if the engine doesn’t start quickly, leaving thirty seconds between attempts to allow the battery to recover.

Antifreeze

Antifreeze at the correct concentration is vital all year round as it prevents both freezing and corrosion. In most modern cars it should be renewed every five years, but in some cars the Antifreeze recommended change point is two years. Check your handbook for correct type and change intervals.

You need a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water in the cooling system for winter. This gives maximum protection down to -34 degrees centigrade, and without it, severe engine damage costing hundreds of pounds can occur. A continuous squealing noise as soon as the engine is started is a sign the water pump is frozen – it’s the fan belt slipping on the pulley. The cylinder block could be frozen too. Stop the engine immediately and allow it to thaw out. This may take several days unless the car can be moved to a heated garage.

Antifreeze costs only a few pounds, but a frozen and cracked engine block will cost hundreds of pounds to repair.

Easier starting

Depress the clutch when starting a cold engine as this disconnects the engine from the gearbox so there is less drag and eases the load on the starter motor.

Screen wash

Keep the washer bottle full of screen wash of the correct concentration so it doesn't freeze in the washers. In extremely cold conditions, you can use screen wash concentrate without adding any water. This helps to avoid the fluid freezing in the washer nozzles and on the windscreen – particularly dangerous when you're driving. Don't use washing up liquid as it produces too much foam, or engine antifreeze which can damage the paintwork.

Cleaned & lubricated

Wash the car frequently, when there is no risk of frost and treat any stone chips as bare metal will quickly rust. Spray a water dispersant into the door locks to reduce the risk of them freezing. Lubricate the bonnet lock so it doesn't corrode, and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the rubber seals of the doors so they don't freeze up while closed.

Make sure all wheel trims are fitted properly to protect the wheel nuts from corrosion which will make wheel removal more difficult.

Fuel

Keep plenty of fuel in the tank – at least half full – as you never know when you will be stuck in traffic or have to make a detour to reach your destination.

De-mist

If the inside of the glass keeps misting up, use the air conditioning on a warm setting to dry out the car. Make sure you don't leave damp coats and wellingtons in the car.

Visibility

Check windscreen wipers and replace if necessary. Make sure that wipers are switched off in the park position when leaving the car, when there’s a risk of freezing. If you don’t and the blades freeze to the screen, you could damage the blades or the wiper motor when you turn the ignition on.

Make sure that all the bulbs are working and that lenses are clean. When roads are really mucky you might need to clean lights after every journey. Keep the number plates clean too, as you can be fined if they are dirty and illegible. If you have to clear snow from the car it is important to clear it from the lights – front and back – as well as from the glass and roof.

Supplies

Many people view their car as their coat and therefore, don't think to carry enough outer clothing. Take a warm coat, gloves and hat in case the weather or the car catches you out. If you do get stuck, you'll be very pleased you packed high energy foods such as chocolate, crisps, nuts, cereal bars, water and a hot drink too.

Children

If you are travelling with children make sure you have food, games and spare nappies, for babies.

Always carry a fully-charged mobile, a pair of wellingtons and take some old bits of carpet and a shovel to clear snow, in case you get stuck.

On colder days be particularly careful on tree-lined roads – the trees prevent the sun's warmth from reaching the road, which may still be icy when all around has thawed.

Fog

In fog, I usually drive with the window down and the radio off – often you can hear problems like cars ahead going over bumps at low speed before you see them.

Snow & ice

On snow and ice just do everything very slowly because it can go wrong very quickly. It’s a good idea to give yourself at least fifteen minutes to prepare your car before you set off and plenty more time to travel to your destination.

Safe Driving

Ensure that you wear dry, comfortable shoes when driving – keep the wellies in the back!

Move off in second gear, lifting the clutch slowly to avoid wheel spinning. Drive slowly and maneuver gently. Stopping distances are increased ten-fold in snow and icy conditions, so adjust your speed accordingly. Avoid sharp, hard or sudden braking and turning at all costs. If you get stuck, straighten the wheels, clear as much snow from around them as possible and use an old piece of carpet or sack in front of the driving wheels for grip. Try not to stop the vehicle again until you are on clear ground.

Winter Checklist

·         Fully-charged mobile phone and in-car charger

·         Personal medication

·         First aid kit

·         Road atlas or Sat. Nav.

·         Blanket, rug or sleeping bag

·         Shovel

·         Bits of carpet, thick cardboard or sacking to place under wheels to help regain traction on ice or snow

·         Salt, sand or cat litter – to help clear snow and ice

·         Ice scraper and de-icer

·         Torch and batteries

·         Tow rope

·         Battery jump leads

·         Bottled water

·         Snacks – chocolate or cereal bars

·         Extra screen wash

·         Warm winter coat, scarf, hat, gloves and warm clothes

Finally, the emergency and breakdown services come under extreme pressure at this time of year. Before calling them out consider whether they can actually help with the problem. If your engine is frozen, only time and warmer conditions will help. If your car doesn't start at home, think about whether you really need to pull a patrol away from vulnerable people stranded at the roadside to get it going.

Be patient - if you are stuck in a 10 mile traffic jam they will be too!

Essentially the winter driving message is:

‘If in doubt, don’t drive out!’