Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Guide to Winter Motoring - For Van Owners Everywhere

Driving your van through the winter months can be more or less as safe as any other time providing you take some additional precautions, carry out regular vehicle safety checks and adapt your driving when necessary. However, there are generally more driving hazards in the winter so it is advisable to check your van insurance is as comprehensive as necessary and covers all possible scenarios.

There are a number of extra things you should keep in your van in winter including: an additional battery and charger for your mobile phone, sunglasses to counter low sun glare, a shovel, some sacking, a blanket, extra clothes, a high visibility vest, tow ropes, jump leads, a warning triangle, a first aid kit and medication if you need it. These things may all be useful and some may even save your life if conditions become severe.

The condition of your vehicle is important and it may be worth having a pre-winter service. Tyres, in particular, are important to check. If the tread is too low that could increase your braking time at an already potentially slippery time of year. Make sure your brake lights and fog light are working, but only use your fog light when it is actually foggy as it can reduce the visibility of your brake lights if used unnecessarily. Other checks should include topping up your radiator with anti freeze, making sure the screen wash is full, and checking that your windscreen wipers are in good condition.

If it is icy it is essential that all your windows and mirrors are cleared to maximize visibility so keep a scraper and deicer in your van. In wet conditions braking time is doubled and in snowy or icy conditions it can increase by as much as ten times. Increase your distance from the vehicle in front as a general precaution in the winter months. In wet or icy conditions any kind of manouvering, turning or braking should be done as smoothly and gently as possible to avoid skids. It is generally not advisable to drive through floods, but if it is not too deep then it helps to stay in first gear and keep your revs up by using the clutch to avoid stalling. Be sure to slowly apply the brakes a few times afterwards to clear excess water.

You should only go out in snow if strictly necessary, and if it is likely to be a regular occurrence then invest in some snow chains. If you are trapped in snow unexpectedly then try to clear it from your wheels and then put your sack under the stuck wheels to get you out, or at least to safer, firmer ground. In general, when in snow driving in a higher gear than usual will help you avoid wheel spin. Should you be stranded in snow then get out of (but stay with) your vehicle and put up a red triangle to warn other road users. Call breakdown services and use your blanket and extra clothes; run your engine for ten minutes every hour if you need to make use of the heater.

If having taken all possible precautions, you still fall foul of the conditions, you need to be sure you are covered by your van insurance. Next time you renew your van insurance make sure that it covers all eventualities that may occur at any time of year, but especially in the winter. Cheap van insurance is widely available and should include features such as full breakdown cover, including home start, recovery following an accident, 30-day European cover, legal expenses cover and a like-for-like vehicle should you need it.

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posted by auto shine @ 1:45 AM   0 Comments