Driving During Winter

Winter in Ireland... Long dark days, wet blustery nights, strange warm spells, icy mornings and fog. In a year when we hardly had a Summer at all, winter is here with a return to long nights, traffic jams and gloomy skies. With all the evidence of climate change around the globe one thing we seem to be stuck with is unreliable weather. Irish winters can be long and dark affairs, with mixed and fluky conditions. The AA is warning motorists to be prepared for a long dark winter on the roads.

Winter is dangerous on the roads. Poor weather and poor visibility can be killers. It is not just the icy mornings that are treacherous. There will be wet and windy days, misty mornings and long dark evenings. The message is to slow down and take extra care.

The AA rescue service is at its busiest in winter. Morning cold starts and weak batteries will see thousands of motorists getting into difficulties. Most problems can be fixed quickly, but there are checks that the motorist can make now to prevent breakdowns and to prepare for the worst that the weather can throw at us.

The Car

Winter Driving

Check the tyres. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm but the AA recommends that tyres be replaced before tread depth is down to 2 mm. Worn tyres are dangerous as the car loses its grip on the road. ‘Aquaplaning’ is caused when the tyre treads are too thin to disperse water on the road surface and it is lethal. Check also for any signs of damage to tyre walls or wheel rims which can be caused by wear and tear as tyres hit kerbs and stones.

If a battery is weak then winter is when it will show up. There are more demands on the car’s electrics during winter. The extra loads of heating, rear screen demisters, lights on in both the mornings and the evenings all take their heavy toll. Fully half of all AA call outs are due to faulty batteries or electrics.

Check regularly that all lights are in working order. Dipped headlights should be in almost constant use. Check the coolant level regularly and top up as necessary. This is not just to prevent freezing – it also prevents the build up of corrosion in the cooling system.

The Driver

The golden rule is drive slowly. Braking distances increase dramatically on wet roads so stay well back from the car in front. Ice is a silent killer. On very cold days it can linger under bridges and in shady spots. Beware of black ice - you can’t see it but reduced road noise tells you its there.

We don’t often have heavy snow in Ireland. According to Met Eireann statistics the average number of days when snow lies on the ground is just under 5 per year, and in recent years it has been even less common. But we do get plenty of wind, gloomy days and rain.

On stormy days, look out for wind blown debris especially on secondary roads. There could be a lethal hazard just around the next bend.

The AA also warns that winter is a time to watch out especially for vulnerable road users - cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

Winter tips:

  • Drive slowly! Braking distances are longer in poor conditions, giving the driver less time to react.
  • Watch out for pedestrians and cyclists! Poor visibility puts vulnerable road users at even greater risk.
  • Never use boiling water to clear a frozen windscreen – it can damage the glass. Keep a can of de-icer handy instead
  • Carry your AA membership card at all times – it covers you if you even if you are a passenger in someone else’s car.
  • Having your car winter checked by your garage can be a worthwhile investment.