[Marc]

Well, it's finally feeling more like winter in the UK.

Hope everyone is staying as warm as possible.

We've recently shared an article on the RAC website about money-saving driving tips this winter. This includes avoiding engine idling, being more wary of potholes, carrying out basic car checks.

Does anyone in our community have any tips for winter driving, or for generally staying warm in winter?

I, for one, have dug out some 'base layer' clothing. Driving-wise, I'm definitely using the car less when possible, such as walking to the local shops.

[Santa]

Modern cars are pretty reliable, but they do need regular maintenance, so be sure to get yours serviced at the correct intervals and check tyres and fluids frequently.

If you are going on a long journey, especially on a motorway, be prepared for holdups that can take hours. Be sure to have something to drink, hot is best, but water is okay. Put a blanket in the back in case it gets really cold, but if you are stationary, run the engine every half hour to warm the car up. Of course, that needs fuel, so don't let the fuel level get too low, even if it means buying some at motorway prices.

Also, be sure to keep your phone charged and working.

[Marc]

Some great tips there @Santa 👍

be sure to keep your phone charged and working.

Yep, that gets a +1 from me!

[Rolebama]

Depending on conditions, I would also have the type of tyres fitted to your vehicle checked. I saw too many crashed cars over the years because they were fitted with 'Sport' or semi-slicks and driven on icy roads.

[Marc]

Good shout @Rolebama but I wonder if people struggling with costs of living will consider winter tyres? I mean, your point is 100% spot on, but I reckon many would decline forking out (even if it could prevent a collision, or worse).

Are snow chains still a thing? They used to be fairly common in winter, but I hardly ever see them now.

[Rolebama]

I don'think we have had the depth of snow for them to be worthwhile. Maybe in Scotland or northern counties, but not, to my mind, since early 80s in the south.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

I don'think we have had the depth of snow for them to be worthwhile. Maybe in Scotland or northern counties, but not, to my mind, since early 80s in the south.

Yes indeed @Rolebama there was 2009 I think, when we were hit with snow in the South. I remember having to drive from Somerset to Wales for a wedding (in a disused mine, in January!) and it was v snowy.
But that's a one-off. Back in the 80s it would snow pretty much every year, right?

I guess annual snowfalls have gone the way of quiet Sundays, insects on your windscreen, and the Sinclair C5!!

[Elio]

1. Layer up: Wear multiple layers of clothing to stay warm when temperatures drop. Start with a thin base layer, add a warmer mid-layer, and top it off with a thicker outer layer. 2. Protect your extremities: Wear a hat, scarf, and gloves to cover your ears, head, and hands. These areas are most susceptible to the cold. 3. Wear waterproof boots: Invest in a good pair of waterproof boots with good traction to keep your feet warm and dry. 4. Eat warm and hearty meals: Eating warm and nourishing meals will help to keep your body temperature regulated. 5. Drink warm beverages: Drinking warm liquids such as tea or hot chocolate will help to keep your body temperature up. 6. Keep your home warm: Make sure to keep your home warm by using a space heater or adding extra insulation.

[Anawilliam850]

@Rolebama Hi! thanks for the tips

[Marc]

Giving this one a nudge as it seems that winter is, well maybe not here just yet, but around the corner.
I guess we're in the "wet season" anyway...
Wish people would slow down a little when there's massive puddles on the roads.

[Rolebama]

Check your antifreeze content. I have attended breakdowns because of frozen radiators caused by the wind chill factor at motorway speeds.
Give all your locks a squirt of WD40 or a similar fish-oil lubricant to stop them freezing up.
Rub gelatine on door rubbers to stop the sticking. (Get it from the cookery aisle at local supermarket.)

[Marc]

Good tips @Rolebama 🙂

[Marc]

Be careful out there today everyone, it's a stormy one!

[NMNeil]

Old school.
Cut a potato in half and rub it on the windscreen. The starch and sugars will limit or stop the ice sticking to the windscreen overnight. Don't forget to wipe the screen under the wiper blades as well.
Seen quite a few times the (plastic) gears inside a wiper motor stripped because the wiper blades were ice 'welded' to the screen.

[Rolebama]

NMNeil's post above reminded me of the times I've changed wiper mechanisms because the wipers were frozen to the screen. People had tried to use their wipers to clear ice from the screens when the blades were stuck. A jug of cold water from the tap will clear an icy screen, but you've got to wipe the screen dry before driving or it will just ice over again.

[Santa]

@Rolebama No problem for me as my current ride has a heated windscreen (and a heated steering wheel - love those warm hands)

Back last century, I was a manager in Birmingham. One of my labourers was a Sihk who, while an excellent worker was not the sharpest knife in the block. One cold and frosty morning he arrived, muffled up to the eyebrows and blue with cold. He had driven in with no windscreen in his car because he had 'defrosted' it with a kettle of boiling water.

[Drivingforfun]

I made the mistake, as a new driver, of using my wipers when the windscreen was frosted. I just assumed the easiest way to clear the frost was to sue the windscreen wipers. Like driving in the dark without my lights on and getting flashed at to remind me to put them on, I only made the mistake once, but would have preferred to learn from others' mistakes rather than make it myself...

[Rolebama]

I have been told that when the older 'safety glass' windscreens went because of using hot water, they went with a bang. Apparently laminated ones sound like a cross between nails on a blackboard and tearing metal as the cracks make their way around the screen.

[Marc]

Here's a new RAC video about being prepared for Winter driving.

Reminds me.... I must get some more screen wash 🙄

[Mark07]

Whilst the weather remains relatively mild, we only need a trip to the shops to remember that the festive season is fast approaching.

For motorists, that means we need to be ready for the added challenges that winter driving offers.

I thought it'd be useful to resurface this discussion as well as adding some extra info;

• RAC's winter driving articles
• 10 signs your car isn't ready for winter
• Driving abroad in winter

To add my tuppence worth. As is mentioned in these articles, visibility is really important especially during these darker months. Making sure your screenwash is topped up and all your lights are working as expected is a simple and important tip that you can take care of today.

[TC1474]

Something I come across more and more these days, especially those who have to park on the street.

During the really cold weather when it freezes, I have lost count of the number of people who go out and start their engines and then go back indoors whilst the car thaws itself out.

2 issues.

First one, if you do that on a public road, you commit the offence of "Quitting" - Leaving a vehicle parked and unattended with the engine running, It carries points and a fine and is often the first offence that new bobbies report for as it is such and easy offence for the new recruit but can have repercussions for the vehicle owner.

2nd point? If you leave your vehicle parked and unattended with the engine running even if its on your driveway, it gets stolen your insurance becomes null and void as they will deem you to have contributed to the theft of your vehicle and therefore will not pay out.

The point was proven a whilst ago when we had our local supermarket deliver our weekly shopping and they always left the engine on their van running whilst they brought the shopping to the door.

I pointed out what I have mentioned above and his attitude was "Who is going to steal my van?"

2 weeks later, said driver not only had his van stolen, he was held liable for the value of both his van and its contents which came to many thousands of pounds given it was a 22 plate Mercedes. Goodness what the value of the content was, but it would have been expensive.

On top of that it was reported to the Police and he ended up with a FPN and a £200 fine and 3 points as well.

His face was a picture when I next saw him and he very sheepishly told me I was right and he had been on the receiving end.

These deliveroo and Just eat drivers are just as bad.

So please do not fall into the same trap. The rules apply all year round. Leave your vehicle parked and unattended, you run the risk of fines, points and a non payment on your vehicle if it gets stolen.

[olduser]

I used to live in Norfolk, and one of the things I noticed was if road conditions were slippery or visibility was bad all the vehicles closed up rather than spacing out.

The Highway Code suggests stopping distance at least doubles in the rain, and about 10 times in snow and ice.
And of course the grip level for acceleration is lower, and steering, these are probably the first clue that conditions have changed, more slippery = more steering movement for fw drive and less for rw drive.

In fog there is this dangerous urge to catch up with the car in front to see their rear lights, because you can at least see something but if that is how you feel you are going far too fast for the conditions.
Of course the next argument is, I daren't slowdown in case I get hit from behind but that's why you have rear fog lights, probably the highest risk of a rear shunt in bad visibility is a temporary stop, it will help to keep your foot on the brakes while stopped to show fog + rear + brake lights at the rear.

I find methylated spirits (meths) removes the diesel film on windscreens but the wiper blades need de oiling as well and meths can leave white smears.
Turpentine (Turps) or Turps sub are good if the screen is dry but unless the screen is warm it needs to be thoroughly wiped off, if it gets mixed with water you are back where you started!
Meths will dissolve in water.

Windscreen washer liquid just doesn't shift it.
Fast wipe makes it worse, if caught out and unable to stop, using the wipers on manual and only wiping when you really have to, appears to be a working strategy until a stop is possible to clean the windscreen.
But cleaning the windscreen before you start is far less stressful.

[onestitchloose]

About 12 years ago when the snow was really bad, it actually closed a few motorways in Scotland for 10 hours. A relative got stuck in it and said they really could have used an empty bottle to pee in. Unfortunately there was no where near that allowed the privacy required outside the car...

[Mark07]

Originally Posted by onestitchloose

About 12 years ago when the snow was really bad, it actually closed a few motorways in Scotland for 10 hours.

Many of my Scottish friends reminisce about the winter of 2010 every time we see any snowfall, I've seen pictures of cars buried in snow drifts, impressive stalactites forming around the gutters of houses and stories of 'that one person' who skied to work.

[Mark07]

The weather is going to take a turn over the weekend and The Met Office have warned that next week wintery conditions will have arrived - snow and ice is expected across Scotland and northern England.

Please take as many precautions as you can if you'll be using your roads - check out our handy articles.

If you can, give your car a decent drive (approx 30 mins) so that the battery is charged, your tyres are pumped up, screenwash and various fluids are topped off.

[Rolebama]

Just my opinion:
It seems that since Highways Agency took over traffic control from the Police they tend to close motorways for even the most minor collisions. We are entering the silly season for this, so I will be avoiding the M25 for the next few months.

[GeorgeJames]

Originally Posted by Marc

Well, it's finally feeling more like winter in the UK.

Hope everyone is staying as warm as possible.

We've recently shared an article on the RAC website about money-saving driving tips this winter. This includes avoiding engine idling, being more wary of potholes, carrying out basic car checks.

Does anyone in our community have any tips for winter driving, or for generally staying warm in winter?

I, for one, have dug out some 'base layer' clothing. Driving-wise, I'm definitely using the car less when possible, such as walking to the local shops.

Great tips for winter! Walking to the shops is a smart idea. Wearing warm clothes in layers really helps too. Does anyone else have more tips for driving or staying warm in winter?

[Rolebama]

Don't forget to clean your wiper blades occasionally.