Snow and ice safe driving advice issued as winter weather hits Inverness and Highlands
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WITH winter weather making the roads dangerous and challenging with snow and ice, the RAC says preparing adequately and driving appropriately will help you stay safe.
Police attended a traffic accident at the Balloch junction with the A96 Inverness to Nairn road about 7.30am today, Tuesday, but there are no details so far and it is understood to have been a minor incident.
Top of the RAC advice is - think about whether your journey is really necessary.
It might seem obvious to seasoned drivers, but they point out also that tyre grip is hugely reduced on icy roads, and braking distances are much longer.
Even if you avoid an accident, your car may get stuck – potentially leading to a long walk home. Traffic congestion is likely to be worse, too. If you don’t get stuck, the driver in front of you might well do…
Before making a journey, make sure you pack a charged mobile phone (and a charger cable), a bottle of water, a few snacks and a warm blanket. If snowfall looks likely, a set of snow socks – high-grip fabric covers fitted over the car’s driven wheels – is worth having, too.
If you’re driving to meet someone, let them know your route and when you expect to arrive. Make sure the car’s windows and mirrors are completely clear before you set off. And in cars with selectable drive modes, select the best option for cold conditions.
The best advice for driving on icy roads is "anticipation and smoothness" being the key words.
Look well ahead for potential hazards – including, of course, patches of ice – and keep your speed well down.
Accelerate, brake, steer and change gear as smoothly as possible to reduce the risk of a skid.
A higher gear may be more appropriate to aid grip on packed ice.
This helps manage engine power delivery, making it easier to find traction. If it’s a manual, you might need to slip the clutch a little to prevent the car from stalling.
Many automatics will let you select second gear at a standstill to pull away in.
Braking distances can increase 10 times on ice compared with a dry road.
Therefore you should leave up to 10 times the normal recommended gap between you and the car in front.
Remember that tyres grip less efficiently in cold conditions. So even if the temperature is above zero and there’s no ice on the road, you should take extra care.
Winter tyres offer more grip and can significantly increase performance in icy conditions.
Black ice is a thin layer of ice on the road surface which because it is smooth and transparent, it appears the same colour as the road below - making it particularly dangerous.
As a guide, if the temperature is low and the road surface looks "wet", be careful and drive with caution as it could be black ice.
Sometimes black ice appears as a glossy sheen on the road.
However, it’s likely you won’t see black ice at all, so be particularly cautious on shaded stretches of road, bridges, flyovers and tunnels – anywhere the surface temperature may be lower, in fact.
Quiet roads are also more likely to be affected.
If you hit a patch of black ice, don’t panic.
Keep the steering wheel straight and maintain your speed – don’t hit the brakes.
Use the gears to slow down if necessary, but avoid any sudden movements that could destabilise the car.
If you do encounter a skid, steer gently into it.
For example, if the rear of the car is sliding to the right, steer to the right.
Do not take your hands off the steering wheel or brake hard.
Police Scotland have also issued winter safety to drivers - and pedestrians and cyclists.
It out walking dress for the weather by wearing reflective or bright-coloured clothing so other road users can see you when visibility is poor.
If you are walking home late at night, make sure someone knows where you're going and when you should be home.
Vehicles can take up to 10 times longer to stop on slippery road surfaces so take extra care crossing the road so try and use pedestrian crossings.
If there are no crossings nearby, find a place with a clear view and wait for long gaps in the traffic before crossing the road.
If there is no pavement, keep to the right hand side of the road so you can see traffic coming towards you.
Winter advice for cyclists is to make sure your bike can be seen by people on the road with a good set of front and rear lights (white at the front, red at the back).
Wear clothes that help you be seen on your bike, such as bright and light reflective items.
Pay attention to road signs, markings and particularly red lights.
Do not cycle on the pavements, they may be slippery and can also endanger pedestrians
Make sure you know about the dangers around you _ cars can take twice as long to stop in wet weather and 10 times longer in ice and snow.
Drivers should make sure their vehicle is ready for winter with tyres, brakes, windscreens, wiper blades and windows clean and free from defects.
Drive to the road conditions. Road conditions can change without warning, stopping distances will be affected by the weather
Make sure your windows aren't misted up, and there is no snow and ice on your windows before you drive.
When the roads are icy, drive at a slow speed in a high gear, and accelerate and brake very gently.
