Bad Weather Driving
The weather can be a real challenge at times but with a little knowledge and practice, you will be able to drive safely in any weather.
In all types of bad weather, there are a few things we can always do:
Recognise that the weather is deteriorating and visibility is getting poorer - slow down
Use your lights. Put fog lights on if you have them.
Keep monitoring the situation - if it gets too bad, stop somewhere safe and out of the way of other road users.
Snow
It doesn't matter how much or how little snow falls, it will still produce the same results: poor visibility and a VERY slippery surface.
Do everything slowly and gently.
When moving off, you don't need as much revs as you would normally need. Bring up the clutch gently until you are at the biting point. Take a good look round to make sure nothing else is coming (if you pull out in front of someone, they may not be able to stop!).
Move off gently, riding the clutch until you are up to speed.
Change gear earlier, getting into 2nd gear sooner, rather than later.
Look well ahead and react to situations gently and earlier than you would on a dry road.
When needing to stop, start to slow down earlier than normal and use your gears rather than the brakes. (Come off the gas and as the car starts to slow, change down 1 gear and gently bring up the clutch, the car will naturally want to go slower, keep off the gas, use the brake and clutch down as late as possible).
Be prepared for other people who may be driving more recklessly than you. They may not have seen you as soon as you saw them , so they will be at risk of skidding and spinning.
A path through the snowmay be carved into the road that may not be the conventional route, crossing lanes and other road markings - don't be a martyr to what you think is right, go with the flow but be prepared for other obsticles such as stranded or abandoned cars in your path.
Fog
A weather condition that often catches people unaware as it can come and go very quickly and you will need to adapt your driving accordingly.
Use your fog lights (if yiu have them) when the fog gets thick.
Don't use your full beam as these will just reflect the water droplets in the air.
Increase the distance between you and the car in front.
Look out for cyclists and pedestrians as they are likely NOT to be wearing highly visible clothing.
Turn off your fog lights again once the weather clears. there is nothing more annoying than sitting behind a car with their rear fog lights on