Drivers should always stop and consider conditions before hitting the road, but driving in the winter requires extra care. Take a moment to explore our winter driving tips:
1. Get your free Express Visual Check before winter starts
Our Winter Express Visual Health Check includes:
- An enhanced 29-point express visual check
- Includes battery and tyres checks
- A Winter Van Care Kit with essentials such as freeze-resistant screen wash, de-icer, and an ice scraper
2. Know when you’re out of your depth
When reducing your speed from 70mph, the difference in stopping distances between tyre tread depths of 3mm and the legal limit of 1.6mm is 44m – that’s the length of four double-decker buses! Remember, your vehicle’s tyres are the only things connecting you to the road at any given time, and your tread contact is the size of just four hands. Please regularly check your tyre pressure and tread depth to ensure your safety!
3. How to check your tread
As tyres may wear differently, check your tyre tread in three places on each tyre. If you don’t have a tread depth gauge, use a 20p coin; place the coin in the groove of the tyre. If you can see the outer edge of the coin, this indicates that your tread depth is less than 3mm and that you should consider replacing your tyres. If you’re unsure if your tyres need replacing, we will check them for you at Heritage Audi Salisbury. We will ensure that you have the right tyre for road conditions and advise you to swap to winter tyres from October-March every year for your safety. Wear on summer tyres can increase by up to 20%* in temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius.
*Source: www.tyresafe.org
4. Use dipped (low-beam) headlights
Hail, heavy snow, and rain reduce visibility. Dipped headlights should be used at night, in bad weather, and in poor visibility. Be sure to travel at speeds that allow you to stop within the distance you can see ahead.
5. Reduce your speed smoothly
Give yourself extra time to reduce your vehicle’s speed on slippery surfaces. Avoid harsh braking, rapid acceleration, and coarse steering. Always reduce your speed smoothly in unideal conditions.
6. Slow down in plenty of time for bends and corners
Black ice is caused by freezing rain (rain freezing when it hits the surface of the road). Black ice makes your steering feel light, so ease off of your accelerator and be delicate with your steering movements.
7. Drive in a lower gear than normal
Driving in a low gear helps you avoid excessive braking on ice and snow. You can also avoid locking your wheels when driving in a lower gear than normal in winter weather.
8. Increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front
Allow up to ten times the normal distance for braking in icy conditions. The normal braking distance for a vehicle traveling at 70mph is 96 metres.
9. Take care around winter maintenance vehicles
Winter maintenance vehicles, especially salting vehicles, are extremely powerful. Keep your vehicle at a safe distance behind them and be sure to use plenty of screen wash to avoid a salt-smeared windscreen. Genuine Volkswagen Screenwash has a freezing point of -35 degrees Celsius* to ensure that you can clear away salt residue.**
*Based on a 1:1 ratio of screen wash and water
**Source: Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
10. Stop frequently in snow
When driving in snowy conditions, stopping frequently helps clean your windscreen and windows, wheel arches, lights, and number plates.
11. Don't drive tired
Bad weather conditions are stressful and make driving more tiring than normal. When driving in winter weather, stop every two hours, get fresh air, and a hot drink.
12. Be prepared for an emergency
We will always recommend keeping emergency essentials in your Volkswagen, including water and food with a long shelf life. The Volkswagen Emergency Pack includes everything you need to put your mind at ease.
13. Stay informed
Switch on your Traffic Programme (TP) and Traffic Information Memory (TIM) to avoid dangerous roads and accidents. Check your Volkswagen Owner’s Manual for more information.
14. Plan ahead
If you use a satellite navigation system, avoid smaller roads. Smaller roads may not be treated for winter conditions. The shortest route is not always the safest route.
15. Take care when driving abroad
Many European countries experience colder temperatures than the United Kingdom. It may be compulsory to fit winter tyres in some European countries, and you may be fined if your vehicle is not fitted with them.