Driving in winter
By finding ice grips for shoes, you've taken your first step towards a safer winter. But with slippy pavements come treacherous roads, so it's vital to take extra special care when you're out in the car as well as on foot.
Winter driving tips
In icy, snowy conditions, car stopping distances increase by more than 10 times. Key to safe winter driving then, is slow, steady manoeuvring that leaves plenty of space between you and the car in front.
In slippy conditions, the last thing you want is to stop while driving uphill, and by leaving that gap you are less likely to get stuck behind a queue of traffic. Keep a gentle but constant speed in a low gear – and be sure to choose the appropriate gear prior to your ascent to avoid having to change down mid-climb.
It's a similar story if you're driving downhill in winter. Select a low gear nice and early, using the engine rather than your brakes to slow your speed. Leave as much room as possible between your vehicle and the one ahead, regardless of pressure from traffic behind you.
Of course, however careful or well practised you might be at driving in winter conditions, there will come the odd, frightening occasion when your car skids on the ice. A skid usually means your wheels have locked up, which renders your brakes largely ineffective.
If it happens to you, concentrate on steering to safety – remove your foot from the accelerator and brake gently once you've regained control of the car. The AA also recommends de-clutching in the event of a skid.
Tips for driving in the snow
A skid isn't the only dangerous possibility in winter though – your vehicle might just as easily become stuck in the snow.
In this case, you'll need to first of all clear the snow from around all four wheels. If you're properly prepared for driving in winter, you should have some old hessian bags, sacks or rugs in the boot (though you can also buy special driving boards for the same purpose).
Lay them in front of your tyres and they should provide sufficient grip to get your car moving once more.
Your preparations may also stretch to buying new winter tyres, which will considerably increase your grip on slippy surfaces – like our EzyShoes, but on a larger scale!
