Tips for driving in ice and snow

Over the past week the country has been buffeted by bad weather, with snow and ice affecting many of our journeys. Travelling in slippery conditions can be even trickier if you’re operating a large vehicle such as a motorhome or towing a caravan.

Although the Coast team advises you only to travel if strictly necessary when road conditions are poor, we appreciate that sometimes you need to make essential journeys. With this in mind, here are a few tips to help you stay safe when driving through snow, fog and ice.

  • Leave plenty of time – rushing often leads to accidents and you should anticipate slower travelling speeds and more traffic
  • Thoroughly prepare your car in advance, de-icing all windows and removing all snow from the car including the roof
  • Turn your headlights on for increased visibility
  • Stick to low revs when setting off. If you own a manual car, try pulling away in second gear
  • Allow at least three car lengths between you and the vehicle in front as stopping distances will be further
  • Brake gently and lift off the brake pedal if you feel your wheels locking up
  • If you start to skid, take your foot off the accelerator and steer in the same direction that your wheels are sliding. Try not to break, but if you are forced to then apply the brakes lightly
  • Should you get stuck in snow, don’t be tempted to spin your wheels – this will only dig you further into the ground
  • Turn your steering wheel from side to side a few times to push the snow surrounding your wheels out of the way and then gently push down on the accelerator.
  • If you have a shovel, clear snow away from the path in front of the wheels. If you have gravel or salt, put some down in front of the wheels to provide more grip to get you moving again

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer an accident whilst travelling in snowy conditions, having a comprehensive insurance policy could save you from encountering a damage repair bill.

Coast is an expert provider of motorhome insurance and caravan insurance policies. To find out more call Freephone 0800 614 849 or click here to buy caravan insurance online.