Working with the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership police are asking road users to take some time to check their vehicles, to think about vehicle maintenance and how they need to alter their driving in winter conditions.
Driving in winter is very different to warm, fine sunny days. We all need to check our tyres are road worthy and legal. Make sure lights are working and are clean. Driving into low sun can be difficult as can driving in rain, snow or when there are floods.
It’s vitally important to leave at least double the distance needed to slow down and stop in wet conditions. Too often we attend collisions which could have been avoided if drivers had left more space between other road users. Space gives everyone more time to think and react to things happening around them. When travelling at 30 mph, as a guideline, it can take 23 metres (75 feet), or the equivalent of 6 car lengths to stop safely. This is made up of thinking time which depends on a driver’s attention and braking distance.
Headlights must be used in poor visibility, which is less than 100 metres. Both front and rear fog lights may also be used when driving in fog, but they must be switch off when visibility improves.
Make sure you’re ready to travel. When did you last read the Highway Code? Was it when you were learning to drive? Take some time to refresh your memory as there are new areas you need to know about. It’s online at The Highway Code. There have been changes this year that introduce the hierarchy of road users. This means keeping vulnerable road users, including cyclists and pedestrians safer by prioritising them over vehicles.
Here’s some tips to get you ready for winter driving
Check your brakes
Clear all windows and mirrors. Check you have enough screen washer fluid and de-icing equipment
Check you have plenty of fuel or battery power
Check you have your mobile phone and car charger
Listen to travel bulletins and weather forecasts for the areas you are travelling through and your final destination. Check to see if main roads have been gritted via Winter road management – View gritting routes – Lincolnshire County Council
If travelling further afield, keep an eye out for overhead messages warning of driving condition, delays, and alternative routes
Let someone know where you are going and what time you expect to arrive
Inspector Jason Baxter, Roads Policing, Lincolnshire Police, said: “We all have a vested interest in keeping our roads safe and to prevent unnecessary collisions. Over the winter months we will be stopping to talk to drivers and road users to check their vehicles are road worthy and drivers are fit to drive.
“We’ve all seen the driver who doesn’t allow proper space between other road users, this is just dangerous and highly inconsiderate to others. There are also the drivers who splash pedestrians on purpose, that’s inconsiderate or careless driving and may result in a charge to court.
“I’ll take this opportunity to remind drivers that holding a phone, sat nav, tablet or any device that can send or receive data could result in 6 points and a £200 fine. The only exemptions are to call 999 in an emergency, you’re safely parked or while making a contactless payment and the vehicle is not moving, at a drive through, for example.”
More information can be found on our website Stay safe when driving this winter | Lincolnshire Police (lincs.police.uk)
You can follow our Roads Policing and Armed Roads Policing Teams @LincsPoliceOps
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