Have a safer journey on the road with RoSPA’s top winter driving tips

It is fair to say that winter is finally upon us – with more bad weather on its way. Last week, gales of up to 165mph battered the country, bringing chaos to parts of northern England and Scotland. We have heard about a couple of tragic deaths possibly related to the conditions and the Met Office has issued weather warnings for wind and snow.

Longer periods of darkness, snow, ice, heavy rain and freezing fog can make for treacherous driving conditions, as was the case particularly over the last two winters, so it pays to be prepared and adapt the way we drive to suit the conditions.

At RoSPA, we have issued some winter driving tips to help you stay informed and reduce the risk of having an accident. I have also recorded a video which summarises the tips in more detail to ensure you are fully prepared. Planning your journey in advance at this time of year could make all the difference and you should adjust your driving accordingly to suit the conditions.

 It is important that you do not get caught out by Mother Nature this year, so make sure that your vehicle is in tip top condition before setting out on the road. Check the following:

• Lights are clean and working
• Battery is fully charged
• The windscreen, wiper blades and other windows are clean and the washer bottle filled with screen wash
• Tyre condition, tread depth and pressure (of all the tyres, including the spare)
• Brakes are working as they should do
• Fluids are kept topped up, especially windscreen wash (to the correct concentration to prevent it freezing), anti-freeze and oil
• It is also good practice to stock up on de-icer, windscreen wash, oil and anti-freeze and keep them topped up.

Among the most vital things to remember to check are the tyres. Make sure they are legal. We recommend that worn tyres are replaced with an equivalent new unit well before the legal minimum tread limit of 1.6mm is reached – ideally as soon as they reach 3mm. After all, the tyres are the vehicle’s only point of contact with the road and therefore need to be in excellent condition.

It is also worth packing an emergency kit, particularly on long journeys. An energy drink, blanket and the odd chocolate bar could make all the difference if you become trapped in a snow drift or stuck on a motorway overnight. We also advise carrying a shovel, tow rope, Wellington boots, a working torch, hazard warning triangle, first aid kit (in good order) and a fully charged mobile phone.

Hitting the road during the winter months should be approached with caution. If it is blowing a blizzard outside and hitting sub-zero temperatures, ask yourself, “Is this journey absolutely necessary?” Remember, conditions can change quickly and your chosen route could worsen as a result. But ultimately, the responsibility lies with the driver in determining what an “essential” journey is; just ensure you keep up-to-date with weather broadcasts and travel bulletins in order to stay one step ahead.

The key message for winter driving is space and plenty of it. In snow and ice you may need up to 10 times the normal distance for braking. That is why it pays to drive at a safe distance from the car in front. In snow, or on icy or snow covered roads, your speed should be reduced to limit your chances of skidding. Your stopping distance will increase massively, so adjust your speed accordingly.

To brake on ice and snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use your brakes gently.

Refresher driving training is a great way of preparing yourself for the dangerous road conditions which may may greet you on the roads this winter. Your employer may offer driver training or alternatively you can contact the RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders group in your area. To find out which is the nearest to you, go to www.roadar.org

And, if you do find yourself in trouble this winter, do not abandon your vehicle. Call the emergency services on your mobile phone or from a roadside telephone and stay with your vehicle until help arrives. Stay calm and try not to panic.

For further advice about winter driving, visit www.rospa.com/winterdriving/ or www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/333.aspx

To keep up-to-date with traffic news and information visit www.highways.gov.uk, www.trafficscotland.org, www.traffic-wales.com and www.trafficwatchni.com/site/default.asp

Bob Smalley, RoSPA’s chief driving examiner

Reaching new heights for RoSPA with STEPUK

RoSPA is delighted to share a blog written by medical student Arlena Kuenzel, co-chair of the Leicester division of STEPUK, who with her fellow students tackled the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge recently.

Here is their story:

After some last minute preparations (including getting the maps) we set off on our way to Yorkshire. There was a group of nine of us that took part in this year’s STEPUK (Society for Trauma, Emergency Medicine/Nursing and Pre-hospital Care United Kingdom) challenge to raise money for RoSPA. The challenge involved us walking a route that incorporated Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in one day – a daunting distance of 24.5 miles (39.2km)!

And off they go!

As most of the group had not done anything like this before, it was great to find out that a friend wanted to join us as his army training meant we had plenty of expertise to guide us along the way.

Our first challenge came not from the walking but from the camping barn that we were meant to be staying at. Having arrived in the dark on the Saturday night, we were left with a locked door and no answer from either of the numbers provided to us. We felt the most sensible solution to this was to head to the nearby pub to have a drink, order some food and wait for the rest of the team to arrive. Luck seemed to be on our side and the barmen were able to help us with the code to get in to the building. We had hoped for a good night’s sleep but were kept up until the early hours by another group staying in the same building. Needless to say, the hot breakfast was more than necessary to get us going the next morning!

Negotiating some of the challenging terrain.

We set off in good spirits and in the pitch black. Despite a minor detour, our head torches served us well and we were making good tracks in no time. The top of Pen-y-Ghent came fast enough and we all thought that this was going to be easier than expected. Then we were faced with the long walk to Whernside. We had been told that part of our intended route was particularly boggy and with few paths for guidance. An alternative route would have made for easier walking but was longer in distance so in our adventurous enthusiasm, we decided to head for the bog. Needless to say, there were many stuck boots and several falls in the mud! Working as a team, we eventually got everyone through to the other side with mud covered clothes to show for our efforts.

By the time we were heading up to Whernside, we were all getting tired and feeling the effects of the walking. Having a qualified physiotherapist on the team came in very useful as he provided plenty of on the scene physiotherapy to keep everyone going. The wind, or rather gale, that greeted us along the ridge of Whernside was not appreciated and we were all too happy to descend on the other side. At this point, we came across another group who unfortunately had a member that had succumbed to the slippery descent and broken their ankle. We witnessed the mountain rescue team and the ambulance working together to help the injured walker back down to the road in order to be taken to hospital. It certainly acted as a reminder for us all to take extra care along the rocky path!

Battling the elements as they soldier on.

As we headed towards our last peak of the day, we knew time was getting short and we were hoping to press on. Some group members headed back to the base, having made a valiant effort for their first time doing such a challenging hike. The walk to the top of the last leg was the steepest of the three peaks and there was great relief when we finally got to the summit! We thought that we were nearly there, but the descent and walk back to our base seemed never ending. As daylight dwindled, we once again reached for our head torches and despite our aching muscles we were happy to have finished the Yorkshire Three Peaks, having not only raised £500 for RoSPA but also having made new friends along the way.

By Arlena Kuenzel