Taunton drivers are you ready for snow?

With severe weather looming,Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service  and Highways Agency have issued some guidelines for driving safely in winter weather, more than half of road users ignore all the warnings and set out in hazardous conditions without any precautions and make unnecessary journeys.  

So do you know how to drive properly in adverse conditions?

A few moments thought and some small preparations before setting out could save you from problems on the road.

One of the biggest thing is tyres, if you know your tyres have been getting to that tine or haven't checked them lately then now would be a good time to get them changed,so you have decent tread. There are plenty of places around Taunton to get your tyres checked

or better still get a winter service and then you will know you are totally up to the weather.

Despite severe weather warnings many will continue to make journeys which are not even necessary. The official advice  is STAY AT HOME unless you really do have to travel. You could delay your journey for a couple of hours until conditions improve and keep checking the latest forecasts from the Met Office.

If you do decide to travel, carry a winter weather kit consisting of a mobile phone, boots, blanket, spade, extra clothing, food and a hot drink. Make sure you de-mist and de-ice your car fully before starting off. Check your car has anti-freeze and lots of screen wash.

Once on the road, drive more slowly than usual and keep your distance from the vehicle in front.  Be prepared to take more time than usual and let someone at your destination know that you have set off and your route and estimated time of arrival, so that they can alert the emergency services if you don’t turn up.

 If you do get stuck, the advice is don’t run your engine all the time and keep a window open a little bit for ventilation.  It all sounds like common sense but most people ignore the advice not realising how quickly they can be in trouble. I always have a drink and some kind of oat or energy bars in my car; probably because I was brought up with a diabetic brother, I just got into the habit.

Here's something I hadn't thought of,they say you should raise your feet off the floor to avoid cold spreading through your body, makes great sense but don't think that one would have occurred to me.

Driving tips for bad weather:

• Check both local and national weather forecasts.

• Only travel if absolutely essential.

• Take a bad weather kit with you.

• Keep your distance when following other vehicles.

• If you skid, ease off the accelerator, but do not brake suddenly.

• Brake gently, accelerate gently and turn the steering wheel gently.

• If climbing a slippery hill, use as high a gear as possible.

• Dazzle from low winter sun can be dangerous - carry a pair of sunglasses.

• Inform other people of your plans.

Make sure you have a woolly or fleece hat in the car, we lose a lot of heat through our heads so even if a hat isn't you usual thing then you should keep one.they don't take up much room. 

If you go to somewhere like Millets, or Tony Pryce you will be surprised how many little useful things you can find,like the stuff mountaineers use, compact clothing,special food etc. A wind up torch and radio  are a good idea and maybe some handwarmers.