Get your car ready for Winter
Before the winter months set in, now is a good time to start getting your car ready for the colder days. Here are a few of our top tips to make sure you’re prepared.
Ice scraper
Legally, you’re required to keep your front and rear windscreens free of snow and ice before driving. Keep an ice scrapper in your car so you can clear the windows before you start your journey.
Torch
Whilst most of us use the torch on our smartphones, there’s no harm in keeping one in the glove box in case you end up on a dark, country road somewhere . You can even get wind up torches that don’t require batteries.
High visibility clothing
If you need to change a tyre by the side of the road, it’s important that you can be seen by other motorists, so a high visibility vest is a must. A warning triangle can also be useful to make others aware of you, if you’re stranded at the side of the road.
Jump leads
The cold weather can be hard on batteries so having a set of jump leads in your car is a good idea. If you’re unsure on how to jump start a car, there are many handy guides online you can check.
Check your wiper blades and windscreen washer
You’ll find your windscreen getting more dirty in the winter, especially if salt has been spread on the roads to prevent them from freezing. This means you’ll find yourself needing to wash your windscreen more to keep it clear. It’s recommended that you change your windscreen wipers every 12 months to keep them as effective as possible.
What you might not know is that it’s an offence to not have washer fluid in your car. Section 34 of the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986, says that cars must be fitted with a windscreen wiper and washer capable of cleaning your windscreen at all times. If your car has no fluid, you could be charged and the police have the power to issue a penalty notice for £100 and 3 points on your licence.
Check your lights
As the nights start to draw in, you’ll need to turn your lights on to make yourself visible to other road users. Take the time to regularly check that your headlights, brake lights, indicators and fog lights work as the bulbs can blow any time. Again, you could also end up with a £100 fine and penalty points on your licence if you have a defective light.
Check your tyres
The minimum legal tyre tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyres circumference. However, many places recommend you change your tyres when they have less than 3mm remaining. It’s important to check your tyres more regularly in the winter as road conditions aren’t as good as in the summer. You can buy a tyre depth gauge online which will help you measure them, or alternatively you can use the 20 pence method. You insert a 20p coin into the groove of the tyre and if you cannot see the outer rim of the coin, the tyre is above the limit.
However if you can’t, it probably needs replaced. If you’re unsure, it’s best to take your car to a professional, who’ll be able to measure them for you. If you drive with illegal tyres, you can get 3 penalty points and a fine of up to £2,500 per tyre.
If you’re ever unsure about how prepared your car is for winter, you could take it to a professional, such as a trained mechanic, MOT tester or tyre service centre who would be able to look over your car and give you some guidance.