11.01.10 - Back to School Tips For Drivers
As some schools are starting to open their doors again following the extended Christmas break, parents on the ‘School Run’ are being advised to take precautions on the nation’s roads. While the snow is clearing in many parts of the country, black ice remains a problem so please drive slowly and remember your breaking distance is ten times greater in icy conditions.
To help parents taking children to school,and indeed returning to work we have compiled a checklist below -
BEFORE HEADING OUT ON THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL RUN;
• Ensure your anti-freeze has been checked
• Check your windscreen wipers for damage and replace if necessary
• Ensure you have plenty of washer fluid in your windscreen washer bottle
• Check that the tread depths on all car tyres are legal (at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth and in a continuous band around the entire circumference of the tyre).
Also be aware that in wet conditions tyre performance drops considerably below 2mm of tread
• Check your tyre pressure, over-inflated tyres are especially dangerous on icy roads
• Regularly clean your lights and mirrors
As the cold snap is set to continue it is a good idea to be prepared, here is a list of items that would be helpful to have in the car at any time, but particularly in the current climate;
• Torch, spare batteries and bulbs
• Screen scraper / de-icer
• Jump leads
• Warning triangle
• First-aid kit
• Fully charged ‘hands free’ mobile phone / phone card / cash
• Blankets and warm jacket (in case of breakdown)
• Shovel (to clear snow, if necessary)
• Fire extinguisher
• Rope (suitable for towing, if necessary)
• Road atlas or maps
• Breakdown assistance emergency number
