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Winter Driving Warning

Posted on 17/12/07
P. Klein

Leicestershire Constabularys Road Policing Unit is offering motorists in Loughborough, Charnwood and the rest of Leicestershire some general advice to ensure they stay safe on the roads this winter.

It comes after seven people have died in collisions in Leicestershire so far this month. Including the trajic death of Adam Bestwick from Loughborough last Saturday evening.

Road Safety Officer John Budulis said: "On the run up to Christmas, the roads will be a lot busier with people doing their shopping and going out to social functions. We are also experiencing some frosty nights. By heeding the advice given, we hope that all road users will remain safe and no more families will have their lives devastated by losing a loved one in a collision."

Leicestershire Constabulary has the following tips for drivers:

• Make sure that your vehicle is legal and roadworthy. Check your tyres (tread depth and pressures), lights, oil, water, windscreen wipers and bodywork. These checks should be done every week. Also, know where all your controls are in the vehicle.
• Plan your journey. Work out your route. Plan to take a break every two hours to combat tiredness. Keep a map in your car in case you get diverted off your route. Have a mobile phone handy, in case of breakdown. Allow for hold-ups, especially if you are travelling at peak times, or you are going somewhere popular. Its better to arrive early than rush if you are late.
• Concentrate. It is estimated that the average person only concentrates for 30% of the time they are driving. Concentration assists your observation, anticipation and planning. If you are concentrating properly, you will see things a lot sooner, therefore, you can anticipate more things and react to them quicker. Dont let things in the car distract you. Never use a mobile phone while you are driving. Even using a hands-free phone will make you lose concentration on your driving.
• Observe all things around you. Look as far up the road as you can, not just immediately in front of you. Look out for road signs and markings in plenty of time. Get into position early, especially at road works, roundabouts and junctions. Use all your side windows and mirrors. Only overtake where it is necessary, safe and legal to do so. If in doubt, hold back. Also, watch out for pedestrians who may step out in front of you without looking.
• Reduce your speed. It gives you more time to react to things happening in front of you. It reduces your braking and stopping distance and makes your driving a lot smoother, safer and saves you money.
  img src="http://www.inloughborough.com/news/2007/11/snow.jpg" alt="snow covered road and lorry" hspace="10" border="0" style="padding:8px;" />

  Leicestershire Constabularys Road Policing Unit is offering motorists in Loughborough, Charnwood and the rest of Leicestershire some general advice to ensure they stay safe on the roads this winter.

  It comes after seven people have died in collisions in Leicestershire so far this month. Including the trajic death of Adam Bestwick from Loughborough last Saturday evening.

  Road Safety Officer John Budulis said: "On the run up to Christmas, the roads will be a lot busier with people doing their shopping and going out to social functions. We are also experiencing some frosty nights. By heeding the advice given, we hope that all road users will remain safe and no more families will have their lives devastated by losing a loved one in a collision."

  Leicestershire Constabulary has the following tips for drivers:

  • Make sure that your vehicle is legal and roadworthy. Check your tyres (tread depth and pressures), lights, oil, water, windscreen wipers and bodywork. These checks should be done every week. Also, know where all your controls are in the vehicle.
  • Plan your journey. Work out your route. Plan to take a break every two hours to combat tiredness. Keep a map in your car in case you get diverted off your route. Have a mobile phone handy, in case of breakdown. Allow for hold-ups, especially if you are travelling at peak times, or you are going somewhere popular. Its better to arrive early than rush if you are late.
  • Concentrate. It is estimated that the average person only concentrates for 30% of the time they are driving. Concentration assists your observation, anticipation and planning. If you are concentrating properly, you will see things a lot sooner, therefore, you can anticipate more things and react to them quicker. Dont let things in the car distract you. Never use a mobile phone while you are driving. Even using a hands-free phone will make you lose concentration on your driving.
  • Observe all things around you. Look as far up the road as you can, not just immediately in front of you. Look out for road signs and markings in plenty of time. Get into position early, especially at road works, roundabouts and junctions. Use all your side windows and mirrors. Only overtake where it is necessary, safe and legal to do so. If in doubt, hold back. Also, watch out for pedestrians who may step out in front of you without looking.
  • Reduce your speed. It gives you more time to react to things happening in front of you. It reduces your braking and stopping distance and makes your driving a lot smoother, safer and saves you money.

  • Keep your distance from the vehicle in front. Remember the Two Second Rule. Again it gives you more time to react to things happening in front of you. It opens up your field of view and lorry drivers in front of you will be able to see you.
  • Driving in adverse weather. Adjust your speed to suit the conditions and thereby ensure that you can proceed with reasonable safety. Remember, your stopping distance can be twice as much on wet roads and up to ten times greater on snow or ice, compared to dry roads. Put your headlights on in reduced visibility. In extreme cases, decide if it is worth starting a journey if you may be exposed to unacceptable risk due to adverse weather conditions. Remember also that whilst the roads in Loughborough might be ice free it is possible that once you leave Loughborough and are on the country roads then they are less likely to be gritted.
  • Dont let other peoples actions influence the way you drive. If somebody cuts you up, or they are travelling too close behind you, dont let it affect you. Concentrate on YOUR driving and not the actions of others. Dont put yourself in a position of confrontation with someone else.
  • Wear at seat belt at all times. Make sure that everybody in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt, even on the shortest journey. Seat belt wearing in vehicles saves over 2,200 lives every year. In a crash at 30 mph, if you are unrestrained, you will be thrown forward and you will hit anything in front of you with a force of between 30 to 60 times your own body weight. Such an impact could result in death or serious injury. Any reward for damages following a crash may be reduced if you were not wearing a seat belt.
  • Never drink and drive. In 2006, 540 people were killed in alcohol-related collisions in this country. Just one drink will seriously affect your ability to drive properly. Also, if you take drugs, both illegal or prescription, your driving will be just as affected. If you get convicted of drink or drug driving, you will receive a minimum 12 month ban, a possible prison sentence and a maximum 5,000 fine. You may lose your job and, because of that, possibly your house. Your insurance premium will rise sharply and you will have difficulty hiring a car for ten years.