30 Raring2go! FEATURE Family Motoring Keeping Safe on the Roads this Winter WINTER is a fact of life in the 8., which means Winter driving is too. Keeping your car well maintained all year round is important but especially so in Winter. During the festive period many of us will be travelling to visit friends & family - here are a few tips to keep you safe & Raring2go! on the roads …. Think about your tyres, not just your car. Check the tread level, pressure & condition regularly and consider cold weather tyres. See & Be Seen! Keep an eye on your lights. Winter brings poorer visibility and increased hours of darkness so check your lights and keep them clean. Top up your screen wash with the right concentration for the conditions and make sure your wiper blades are in good order. Allow enough time to clear your windows of ice, snow or condensation on cold mornings. Don’t leave the engine running with the keys in whilst you nip into the house to keep warm – we’ve all seen it happen …. Under the Bonnet Keep up to date with servicing and monitor your battery and antifreeze, oil & coolant levels too. Be Prepared … Plan your journey, allow plenty of time & make sure you have plenty of fuel, your mobile phone is fully charged & have an in car charger. If you are in a recovery service, make sure to carry the card with you. Keep your mobile phone handy, don’t put it in the boot. Try to travel during the day when possible & keep an eye on the weather forecast. Keep an emergency kit in your car including warning triangle, ice scraper & de icer, warm waterproof boots, clothing and a blanket, snow shovel, torch & spare batteries, small bags of sand or salt, a road atlas, first aid kit and food and drink. Bottled water and extra screen wash is useful if your screen wash freezes. Sun glasses are useful to avoid glare in bright snowy conditions.
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