If you’re making a journey over the next few days, please take extra care as adverse weather conditions may affect your journey.
Please follow these tips before making your journey:
- Check local TV, radio and internet for weather and traffic reports before travelling. The Met Office is providing regular updates on their website.
- Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged, but DO NOT use it if driving.
- Pack plenty of warm clothing and drinks in your vehicle, including hot drinks in a flask, if possible.
If you’re planning on driving:
Before you travel:
- Prepare a winter kit to take with you. There are some essential items that can help you if you get stuck in cold and wintry weather. This should include warm clothes and blankets, food and drink, and other essential items such as jump leads should you get a flat battery and a shovel in case you need to dig yourself out of trouble. You should also have a high visibility jacket and warning triangles, in case you do break down to warn other motorists. For a full list, please see the Met Office travel advice.
- Make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure and in good working order.
- Make sure your brakes are in good order and checked regularly.
- Make sure the heater and demisting system in the vehicle is in good working order.
- It is useful to have a red reflective warning triangle in the vehicle in the event of a breakdown.
- Make sure your car is fuelled and that oil, brake fluid and windscreen washer levels are full.
During your journey:
- Be aware that high winds can affect the handling of your vehicle and sudden gusts can happen without warning – keep a good grip on the steering wheel and avoid overtaking high-sided vehicles.
- Allow more time for braking in snow and icy conditions.
- Allow more room between yourself and other vehicles – this will give you greater braking times and distances.
- Driving in adverse weather conditions can be stressful and tiring – if you feel tired, take a break.
During this time of adverse weather, please be mindful of those in your community that may not be coping, check in on elderly or vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours and be on the look-out for signs that something might be wrong.
More road safety advice can be found on our website here, or please follow our social media channels for our latest updates.