A motoring expert has advised all drivers to follow one tip to prevent collisions as snow is forecast for two major parts of the country in the coming days.
Drivers have been urged to follow a simple tip when travelling in snowy weather (Image: Getty)
Drivers have been urged to follow a simple yet effective tip to keep them safe on the roads as some parts of the country are set to see snow in the coming days.
According to the Met Office, spells of hail, sleet, and snow are forecast for parts of Scotland and the north of England from Monday November 18 2024, putting inexperienced drivers at risk of accidents and fines.
To stay safe behind the wheel, Simon Waye, technical engineer at ATS Euromaster, recommended that all drivers travelling in snowy weather keep a close eye on their speed.
He explained: “Over half (60%) of drivers don’t know the recommended driving distance in snow and ice.
“When the roads are icy, they will inevitably be more slippery than usual, and braking distances can be 10 times more than on a dry road.”
Drivers should increase their distance from the car in front by 10 times when travelling in snow (Image: Getty)
In normal driving conditions, motorists should always leave a gap of at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front in order to give themselves enough time to react to sudden scenarios on the road.
However, with snow and ice often bringing much slippier driving conditions, this distance should be increased to at least 10 seconds, with some motoring experts recommending a 20-second gap on high-speed roads.
Drivers should also avoid travelling as fast as they would in dry situations, which can drastically increase braking times and a vehicle’s ability to steer effectively.
In particular, drivers should slow down when taking corners and avoid harsh braking (Image: Getty)
In particular, Simon urged drivers to avoid travelling fast around corners, which can significantly increase the risk of skidding.
He advised: “Highways England therefore advises to slow down and keep 10 times the normal recommended gap between you and the car in front. It also advises to drive particularly slowly around any bends.”
Whilst there is no particular law for travelling too quickly in the snow, offending motorists could be charged with careless driving, which could result in fines of up to £2,500 in the most serious cases.
To reduce the chances of fines and skidding, Simon recommended that motorists use the accelerator and brakes as smoothly as possible.
He added: “Braking and accelerating as smoothly as possible is important, particularly on ice, in order to reduce the chances of skidding.
“Avoid any harsh acceleration and to slow down, use gear changes and light touches of the brake to show your brake lights to cars behind you.”
