Road safety in the winter months ahead
With the clocks going back this Sunday 27 October at 2am, this marks the end of British summertime. It also means the road conditions are changing, so it’s important that your customers take extra care and attention to reduce risk this winter.
Autumn and winter present many potential hazards for drivers. Roads become slippery with the influx of fallen leaves and ice, and visibility is often reduced.
Road conditions, driver behaviour and the environment all contribute to the five deaths and 61 serious injuries that happen every day on UK roads. But there’s a lot that your customers can do to help prevent this.
What can your customers do to combat risk?
Regular inspection of the vehicle is important to reduce the chance of breaking down – or having an accident. These should cover everything from checking headlights and windscreen washer fluid, to tyres and battery. In the winter, some checks become increasingly important. As a standard, the below should be checked weekly:
- Brake fluid
- Engine coolant
- Engine oil
- Lights, bulbs, reflectors
- Power steering fluid
- Tyres, including the spare (pressure, tread depth, damage)
- Horn
- Mirrors
- Seat belts
- Windscreen and windows
- Windscreen washer fluid (including anti-freeze in winter)
- Windscreen wipers
Maintenance throughout the winter is important. This should include:
- Checking the concentration of anti-freeze in your coolant system, and bringing it back to the correct winter level
- Replacing your car battery at the first sign of trouble
- Replacing any faulty light bulbs immediately
- Spraying door locks with WD40 every few days to prevent freezing
With the sun lower in the sky, good visibility can be a problem for motorists. Extra care and attention should be paid to the windscreen and any chips or scratches should be dealt with as quickly as possible.
This article originally appeared on Allianz.