Be safe on the road this winter

We all know how dangerous driving conditions can be during the cold winter months, particularly here in Scotland, but many accidents that occur on the road could be easily avoided by following some simple safety rules.

So here at Taggarts we have decided to put together a short guide for driving in the winter period, and how to cope with treacherous road conditions.

• Is the journey essential? The first thing you should consider is if the journey is necessary or not. Check weather forecasts. If the conditions are severe then you should question whether you really need to make the trip, and if you do, are there any alternative modes of transport you could take which might be safer? Or is your destination within walking distance?

• Check your car: Before you set off on your journey it is always a good idea to do a few checks on your car. You should ensure that the lights, mirrors and windows are free of any ice, frost or snow. Check to make sure that the windscreen wipers and lights are working correctly and the tyres are ok, you might need to stop at a garage and check the tyre pressure is correct. We would also recommend that you check to make sure there is enough screen wash in your car (with extra anti-freeze for this time of year) and carry a spare bottle  in the car as you will probably use a lot of it, so you might need to top up when you are out and about.

• Drive safe: Now that you are on the road be sure to drive slower and be more cautious than usual if the road conditions are wet, icy, snowy etc and also use dipped headlights when necessary. You should increase the stopping distances between your car and others that are on the road in front of you.  It’s also advisable to keep an ear out for travel bulletins on the radio, this should help make you aware of any particularly troublesome roads or traffic spots which could be avoided.

Contact us at Taggarts today to find out about some special winter offers we currently have running on car servicing.