Our friends over at myvehicle.ie have compiled a helpful guide to winter driving.
According to new data provided by the RSA, in November 2014 there were a staggering 548 collisions on Irish roads. Of those collisions there were 20 fatalities, and that was just for the month of November alone.
December proved to be equally as devastating in its results, altogether there were 475 collisions with 17 fatalities across Ireland. Dublin had the highest number of deaths on the road throughout November and December 2014. Weather conditions in Winter increase the amount of collisions, so make sure you take every precaution when getting behind the wheel.
Here are 10 tips on how to stay safe this Winter
Visibility
Make sure you have clear visibility through your windows. Clean the inside and outside of your windows on a regular basis.
Check your tyres
It’s highly recommended that you check your tyres at least once a month and to do it soon with winter approaching. Remember, tyres are the only part of your vehicle to touch the road!
Consider purchasing winter tyres. Winter tyres use rubber compounds designed to deliver performance at low temperatures. The tyres are designed to cope with all types of wintery weather conditions.
Make sure you have your brakes checked
Brakes are the most important safety system of your vehicle. It’s important to check them at least once a year and preferably before winter.
Replace your wipers
Wiper blades should be replaced every 6 months, as they lose their effectiveness in as little as 6 months.
Keep up to date with the News
Before taking a long journey, make sure to check the weather forecast as it may be too dangerous to drive in certain parts of the country.
Beware of Black Ice
Driving on a road covered with black ice is dangerous because the road can appear to be only wet, so drivers may not recognize the slippery conditions until too late.
Check your Car Battery
Old batteries are affected more by cold weather, resulting in a non-start situation. The reasons are because the engine needs more energy to start and the performance of the battery drops at lower temperatures. Car batteries last between 4-6 years.
Buying a car this Winter? Get a car history report with Myvehicle.ie
With the increase of fake NCTs and 4 in every 10 written-off Irish vehicles back on the road, it’s important to get a car history report before purchasing a second hand car.
Get your car serviced
This will prevent unexpected breakdowns and it will also allow you to drive safely on the roads in bad conditions.
Go slower than usual
The vast majority of car accidents in Ireland happen due to excessive speed. It is very difficult to maintain the speed on winter roads. Due to excess speed, your tires will lose its grip on the road altogether.
