Driving Safety Tips - Driving In Snow - Vehicle Accessories Ltd

Driving Safety Tips – Driving In Snow

This winter we are providing you with tips and tricks to help you, and your vehicle, prepare for the winter months.

Last week we provided you with some of the best ways to prepare your vehicle for the cold months.

This week’s post explains how to prepare for and drive in snow. It is predicted that many areas of the UK will get snowfall during December/January (according to the UK weather Forecast Website), and therefore it is vital that you are ready for what is to come.

When driving in snow take these tips into account:

1. Accelerate gently and DON’T speed. Use low revs and change up to a higher gear as quickly as possible. You may need to move off in second gear as this will help reduce wheel slip.
2. Always leave a large gap between you and the car in front (larger than usual). This means if anyone has to brake abruptly (or if anyone skids), you are less likely to collide.

3. If you do encounter a skid, steer gently into it. Do not take your hands off the steering wheel or stamp your foot on the brakes as this can cause you to skid!

4. If the road has not been gritted be aware of ‘black ice’. It is also advised not to drive in the wheel tracks of other vehicles because compressed snow is likely to be icier than fresh snow.
5. Braking, steering, changing gear and accelerating should be carried out smoothly and slowly.
6. Sunglasses can help to reduce the glare of the sun from the snow/ice.
7. Stay alert and keep your speed down to allow for time to stop and steer.

The Department of Transport put together statistics from 2012 which show that38 people were killed, 544 were seriously injured and 4,584 were slightly injured in reported road accidents on UK roads when there was snow or ice on the road surface. Don’t be one of these statistics! Keep following our blog for more Winter Road Safety Tips.

Next week we will explain the best ways to keep yourself safe in icy conditions and hail.

Paul Randall

2024-03-14

First Class! Dave and the team are fantastic. The fit on our first Mobile Bike Service and Repair Van could not be any better. From the very beginning, through the design process, all the way to completion I cannot fault a single thing. As I write this, our second van is being fitted to exactly the same specification and the third van is on the way. Long may this partnership continue!

Tim Lees

2024-02-20

Very helpful and patient with an older guy who was a bit nervous ordering from a company I didn't know. The product I wanted wasn't on their website but I thought it worth asking and they had it at a good price. It came the next day and worked perfectly.

Richard Shepherd

2024-01-17

I highly recommend Lee, Dave and the Team at Vehicle Accessories after they did a fantastic job for a one off bespoke van fit for my business. I approached them with a rather radical high concept idea, Dave did a great job taking notes from my extensive brief. He made a great effort to listen and take notes along the way making sure he understood and made suggestions for materials which really led to a much better end product. A particular highlight was a suggestion for them to fabricate a wall mounted Steal Mesh cage system for my equipment which far exceeded my expectations of quality and engineering. During the planning stage and construction suggestions were made to change materials and systems for what they thought would work better for the project as it developed. The end product was perfect and done to a very high standard, it really turned out better than I ever hoped for. Communication throughout was excellent with regular updates, fast responses and easy dialogue when confirming details or discussing changes. Changes were managed quickly and efficiently throughout the build with a great deal of flexibility and professionalism. Even though I was just having just one bespoke build being done for myself I felt highly valued as a customer and treated with the same level of respect and attentiveness as someone ordering a fleet. The quality of work and customer service will certainly mean I’ll be coming back for my next van project.

Philip Taylor Ashby

2023-12-26

Lee and his helpful staff sorted my lock problem that made it easy to break in or steal and at there Christmas closing time🙏, friendly helpful and reasonable thank you all.

Mark Elliott

2023-05-23

Great choice of equipment to fit and all done efficiently. They have designed and fitted racking to 75 vehicle for us in the last year.

Ross Thomson

2023-05-20

I can’t recommend Lee and his team of wizards enough. They fitted the gas with all the safety requirements and modified / adapted several parts of the electrics. They went above and beyond my expectations - I won’t hesitate to use them again.

Andrew Young

2023-04-13

What can say.... the order process was simple, prices competitive and when it was realised that I had ordered 2 incompatible parts I got a call to check and recify the order. Collection was easy and the install team did a quick, neat job. Job done....until next time thank you

Annie Meadows

2023-02-28

Dave, Lee and the team at VA moved crates from my old van to a new one. Easy to communicate with, quick turn around, met all my requests, made good suggestions (such as putting in a waterproof floor) and did an excellent job. Highly recommend.

miles leech

2022-12-22

Big thanks to Dave and the rest of the Vehicle Accessories team. They've done a great job fitting security locks and a floor in my new van. They also moved over my racking and interior lights from my previous van while going out of there way to make it all fit. Excellent service, very efficient and professional. Highly recommended and nice people to deal with. Thanks Miles Ashton Gas