Today with Sean O’Rourke asked broadcaster and motoring expert Anton Savage to give listeners some tips for driving on snow-covered roads during Storm Emma. Anton is keen that drivers keep in mind how quickly road conditions can change and to think about what they should do in the event that it is no longer safe to keep driving.
“If you're on compacted ice, there are a lot of people who wouldn’t have much experience in driving on it. And how low the level of grip is astonishing.“
Anton warned against becoming complacent when it comes to stopping distance, saying it’s “the absolute critical thing” when it comes to driving in snow. His advice is not to treat it as a normal, dry commute and to leave much more space than usual between cars.
“[If the] person in front of you hits the brakes, there isn’t the tiniest chance of you getting stopped…For anywhere that hasn’t had a plough down it recently, tip-toe along.”
While he recommends against venturing out in a car unless necessary, if you do have to make a journey, Anton has the following advice: clear the snow from your car, let the car warm up before driving, bring a tow-rope and jumper cables if you have them (“cold kills batteries”), make sure the car is well-fueled and bring your phone.
“The first thing you should do, if you make a journey, is fill up the tank. So that you know, worst case scenario, if I do get stuck, I can sit here with the engine running and the car warm for as long as needs be. You don't want to discover, I’m stuck and I’m running out of either petrol or diesel. This is now getting a bit exciting.”
Listen back to the full segment on driving safely during snowy conditions on Today with Sean O’Rourke here.