Breaking down is never a pleasant experience – especially if you have to wait for recovery in the cold.
You’ll also want your vehicle to be in the best condition to handle difficult driving conditions in severe weather.
This handy reminder for pre-journey checks is called the ‘POWDERY’ checklist:
petrol (or diesel) - don’t run out of fuel
oil - check levels once a month
water - check radiator and screenwash once a month
damage - check wipers, lights etc for signs of wear and tear or damage
electrics - check lights, indicators and controls are working properly
rubber - are your tyres well inflated, legal, with good tread and free from damage?
yourself - are you fit to drive? - have you slept well? - are you taking any medication(s) that could make it unsafe for you to drive?
Keep these items in your vehicle from the start of winter, you never know when you might need them.
These include:
an ice scraper and de-icer
a torch and spare batteries - or a wind-up torch
warm clothes and blankets - for you and all passengers
boots
first aid kit
jump leads
a shovel
road atlas
sunglasses (the low winter sun and glare off snow can be dazzling)
Before you set off
In severe and wintry weather it’s even more important to plan your journey. The Highways Agency for example provides the latest traffic situation for England’s motorways and major A roads.
Road and weather conditions may change, drive with care
When you’re on the road, pay attention to the changing road, traffic and weather conditions.
Be ready to slow down and take more care if you need to, particularly on bends and exposed roads. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security - even if you drive every day on the same stretch of road.
Collisions and Incidents
The law defines a reportable road traffic collision as a collision involving a mechanically-propelled vehicle on a road or other public area which causes:
injury or damage to anybody - other than the driver of that vehicle
injury or damage to an animal - other than one being carried on that vehicle (an animal is classed as a horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog)*
damage to a vehicle - other than the vehicle which caused the collision
damage to property built on, attached to, growing in, or otherwise forming part of the land where the road is
What to do if you're involved in a road traffic collision
stop at the scene - it is a legal requirement to stop as soon as it is safe to do so
switch off your engine
switch on your hazard lights
check for any injuries to yourself and any passengers
exchange details with anyone involved - name, address, car registration number
provide your insurance details if requested
If you're having trouble getting these details from someone involved or they have left without giving details, call the police on 101 while you're still at the scene of the collision.
When should I call 999?
if someone is in danger
if someone has been seriously injured
you believe a serious offence has been committed
the collision has caused a blockage or dangerous obstruction of the road
How to report your collision
You don't need to report a collision to the police if you've exchanged details, nobody was injured and there are no allegations of driving offences.
You must report the collision to the police if you were unable to exchange details at the scene, if anyone was injured, or if you suspect that the other person may have committed a driving offence.
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