Frequently Asked Questions

Driving with reduced visibility in winter due to fog is something that is both common and dangerous in the UK. Read our tips in this section to help you know what to do and reduce the risk of crashing.

Firstly, knowing where the controls for your front and rear fog lights are and how to use them is crucial. Be careful not to confuse these with your ‘main beam’ light setting as this can startle approaching drivers.

The Highway Code states that drivers should use their headlights when visibility is less than 100 metres therefore, those who have to travel in these conditions are advised to take extra care and check that their lights are in good working order.

You should use the two second rule to keep a sufficient space between you and the driver in front. If your visibility is very bad then be sure to lower your windows at junctions to listen for oncoming traffic.

Heavy Rain:

Although driving in wet weather can be very dangerous, you have less chance of an incident if you prepare first. However, we recommend that if heavy rain is forecast then you assess whether the journey is absolutely necessary to make at that time. If it is the case then we advise you to inform your family and friends of your planned route and also to take a fully charged mobile phone with you in case of emergency.

Visibility is key when driving through heavy rain and it is important to use headlights when visibility is reduced below 100 metres according to the Highway Code. You should also check the condition of your windscreen wipers and give yourself enough time to replace them if necessary. You can find a large selection on our online shop http://www.123spareparts.co.uk/

When driving in heavy rain, if your steering becomes unresponsive then aim to slow down gradually by easing off the accelerator pedal and avoid using the brakes sharply. We recommend that you check the level of tread on your tyres and that it is no lower than the legal requirement of 1.6mm. If it is then you should change your tyres immediately and look for replacements with low aquaplaning, which essentially means that your tyres can better disperse the water from underneath them than tyres with high aquaplaning.

Flooding:

Flood water can provide many dangers to motorists as it is often unclear just how deep standing water is. It is for this reason that we recommend you only to drive through it if you can be sure exactly how deep it is. Drive slowly and steadily to avoid creating a wave and do not try to drive through fast moving water as you risk your car being swept away.

Ensure that if you do drive through standing water that you reduce your speed and go steadily, taking care not to soak any pedestrians who may be walking or standing next to the road. If caught driving quickly through water and soaking pedestrians it can result in a hefty fine. 

Again, like in most adverse weather conditions, it is advisable that you make a decision as to how necessary it is to take a journey that involves driving in high winds. If you do decide to drive in extremely windy weather then be sure to take a mobile phone with you in case conditions get too bad. In this case we would advise you to pull over your vehicle when it is safe and legal to do so and inform your family of your location. Please read our tips for coping with driving in high winds:

-          Plan your journey so that you can stay on sheltered roads where possible.

-          Drive slowly to avoid loss of handling due to high gusts of wind

-          Stay aware of those cars around you as sudden gusts of wind can cause other road users to lose                      control of their vehicle

-          Avoid overtaking high sided vehicles where possible as the wind can hit your vehicle heavily when                    clearing.

-          Keep extra distance between you and the vehicle in front of you and keep an eye on where these                     vehicles become affected by extreme winds.

-          Look out for debris on the road surfaces.

Firstly, check your tyres for adequate tread depth. Worn tyres in poor condition will not grip and therefore reduce safety when driving. It is recommended that you use winter tyres in temperatures below 7°C for better grip, handling and safety. You can see a wide selection of wnter tyres to suit all budgets in our winter tyres section of our online shop: http://www.mytyres.co.uk/Winter_Tyres.html

Before setting off allow up to an extra ten minutes to de-ice your car and clear your windscreen, not forgetting the other windows in your vehicle for maximum vision and safety. In the absence of de-icer, never pour boiling water over your windows as this can cause cracking and result in a costly repair. Always use lukewarm water instead and never leave your vehicle unattended whilst using the internal heater system to defrost the screen, as you run the risk of having your vehicle stolen.

When driving in snow be sure to accelerate gently, using low revs and move to a higher gear as quickly as possible. Leave 10 times the normal distance between yourself and the driver in front of you to avoid the likelihood of an incident

If the road has not been gritted yet then please be wary of driving along the tracks of other drivers, as compacted snow is more slippery than fresh snow. Should you have a skid then steer into it without using the brakes suddenly or removing your hands from the wheel to reduce the risk of crashing.

Before setting off:

Before setting off on a journey in the winter it is important to decide whether the planned journey is absolutely necessary or if it can be postponed until better weather conditions. If the journey cannot be avoided, then be sure to inform family and friends of your route and ensure that your mobile phone has sufficient battery life to last the entire journey. You must ensure that you have some essential items with you when driving in winter conditions, which is why we’ve put together this handy checklist so that you can be sure you have everything:

-          Ice scraper and de-icer

-          A torch with spare batteries

-          Warm clothes and a blanket just in case

-          Food and a warm drink

-          Winter boots in case you have to walk in the snow for whatever reason

-          A first aid kit

-          A shovel

-          Reflective warning sign

-          Road map

-          Sunglasses against the glare of the low winter sun

-          Mobile phone charger

-          Jump start cables

As an added measure please ensure to listen to local radio for road and weather updates. Also plan your route to stay on main roads where possible because these will be used by other drivers and therefore less dangerous than the smaller, undisturbed country roads.

Due to the unpredictability of the weather in the UK, driving in winter can be difficult and dangerous. So read our useful tips and advice to learn how you can stay safe on the roads during adverse weather conditions. 

It is essential that your car is in good working order before setting off on a journey in poor weather conditions therefore, there are a number of key things which should be checked before leaving:

Tyres:

Visit our ‘Winter Tyres’ section on our shop for a large selection of winter tyres to suit your budget. https://www.mytyres.co.uk/Winter-Tyres.html

Battery:

If your car hasn’t been used in a while then the battery may need charging before leaving for a long journey. You can find car batteries at affordable prices on our car parts shop

Vision and visibility:

Ensure that your windscreen and other windows are clear and vision is not obstructed in any way. Remove all snow from vehicle windows and roof to avoid snow falling onto your windscreen or hitting the windscreens of other drivers on the road. Use air conditioning for quicker demisting and check your windscreen wipers and replace if necessary. Make sure that you have ample levels of screen wash and that the solution is suitable for winter conditions as not all screen wash is the same.

To ensure that you are visible at all times on the road during the winter months check that all bulbs are working and lenses are clean. Use dipped headlights when visibility is low and also front and rear fog lights however, fog lights must be turned off again when the visibility improves. 

You can find a large selection of Batteries, Windscreen wipers, light bulbs and washer fluid on our car parts shop https://www.123spareparts.co.uk/