A Guide to Road Safety Week

This Road Safety Week

✔ Brake is leading on the development of a Road Victims’ Charter, calling on our new government to provide sustainable funding and parity of care for road victims and their families, whoever they are, wherever they live, and whether or not a crime has occurred.

✔ We are bringing communities together to remember loved ones who have died or suffered life-changing injury in road crashes.
✔ We are helping children and young people learn about the people who help us after a crash.

✔ We are helping organisations that employ people who drive for work to learn why we need robust investigation into the causes of road crashes, so we can understand why they happen and prevent future road death and harm.

✔ We are helping people whose lives have been torn apart by road crashes to talk about their experience.

✔ We are showcasing the work of Brake's National Road Victim Service, which provides expert emotional and practical support to thousands of road victim families during their darkest and most difficult times.

As well as building awareness around road safety it is important to ensure your car is operating at its peak. By regularly servicing your car, vital components such as brakes and tyres are checked over and maintained which ensures greater road safety for you, your passengers and other road users. 

In the winter months more strain is placed on your car so a winter health check is an ideal way in which to make sure your car is prepared and safe for the colder months.

Check out Group 1's latest servicing offers or book a check up to ensure your car is running safely. Click below to book a service.

The battery is put under increased strain during the winter months, with cold starts and heavier loads due to the car’s lights, heating and other features being on more. The colder the temperature gets, the slower chemical reactions within the battery can take place, which reduces performance. Ensuring you car's battery has a good level of charge (approx. 75%) is important for optimal winter running.

Click below to book a Winter Health Check at Group 1.

Lights are important to ensure you can see and be seen by other road users. Walk around the car and check all the lights are working. Replace any that are not and regularly clean your lights, so they offer maximum performance and safety. 

Click below to book a Winter Health Check at Group 1.

Oil should always be between the min and max marks on the dipstick. Not having enough or having too much oil can cause a breakdown or engine failure.  

Click below to book a Winter Health Check at Group 1.

During the winter, muck from the road is thrown up onto the windscreen, meaning you use screen wash a lot more. Of course, this will increase the chance of it running out and reducing your visibility and safety. It is important to regularly top up the screen wash and to a good strength to ensure it does not freeze.

Wipers can freeze onto the windscreen and using them can damage the wiper motors, therefore before driving off, ensure the wipers are not stuck to the windscreen by defrosting the car first and lifting the wipers off the glass. Wipers should be effective at clearing the windscreen, if they do not or cause a streak across the glass they probably need replacing.

Click below to book a Winter Health Check at Group 1.

Tyres are the only part connecting you and your car to the road. Ensuring that tread is above the minimum legal level of 1.6mm (and the advised 3mm in winter), as well inflated to the correct pressure, are all essential to ensure good grip and traction on wintery roads. Tyres should also be free of any damage or bulges. 

Click below to book a Winter Health Check at Group 1.

When there is snow, ice and sleet the roads become much more dangerous, so the biggest tip is to drive slower. Stopping distances can be 10 times longer when it's icy. Gentle manoeuvres and slow speeds are the key to safe driving in ice and snow.

During the winter months make sure you allow extra time for your journeys because it can take time in the mornings to defrost your car and this allows you to drive slower and more safely in hazardous conditions. If you do need to drive in hazardous conditions, plan a route which mainly sticks to major roads as these are more likely to have been gritted.

To avoid wheel-spin you may get more traction by setting off in second gear and by using the clutch gently. If you have to use your brakes whilst driving in icy conditions, use them gently to avoid losing control. When driving uphill leave plenty of room between other cars and wait until there is a clear route so that you don't have to stop on your way up. When driving downhill, again make sure to leave plenty of space between you and other road users. Slow down before you get to the hill and use a low gear, trying to avoid braking unless needed. 

It is important in poor conditions to be seen and to be able to see. 

So before you drive anywhere make sure that your windows are completely clear of snow, ice and mist. Make sure you clear the roof of any snow to avoid it falling whilst driving and blocking your view. Use the air-con if your car has it to demist the screen faster and to remove moisture from the air inside the car to reduce the chance of condensation. 

Make sure that all your car's lights are working and that the lenses are clean, you may have to clean them for each trip if the roads are particularly dirty. You also need to keep your number plates clean to avoid a fine. When driving and visibility is reduced, make sure to turn on your headlights so that other road users can see you. 

To keep you safe this winter there are a few essentials you should keep in your car when driving in winter. These will help you deal with ice, snow and dark winter nights. 

✔ Ice scraper
✔ Torch and spare batteries
✔ De-icer
✔ First aid kit
✔ Power Bank/a way to charge your mobile phone
✔ Warm clothes, waterproofs and high-vis jackets
✔ Sturdy footwear
✔ Shovel
✔ Jump leads
✔ Warning triangles