Driving Tips

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Ice driving tips

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger says: "Now is the time to start thinking about how to deal with wintry weather, so that when it comes along you are ready for it."
Rodger offers six tips to drive confidently in icy conditions:
1. Ensure you have de-icer and a scraper. Before setting off, make sure you clean any ice or condensation from all the windows so that your visibility is clear.
2. When you set off, do so in second gear, releasing the clutch and accelerating gently.
3. As you drive, stay in higher gears to minimise the possibility of wheel spin.
4. Stopping distances are increased by up to 10 times in icy conditions, so leave much more distance than usual between your car and the car in front.
5. If your car loses grip, take your foot off the accelerator, and point the front wheels where you want to go.
6. Bear in mind, after the frost has gone, ice can remain in areas which are shaded by trees and buildings, including bridges.

Peter said: "We all need to respect that the weather changes and make adjustments to deal with it. Being mentally prepared as well as having the right equipment is vital, so think about last year, any problems it caused you, and what you need to do to overcome them if they recur this year."

Ice Advice On-line

Road safety charity the IAM launched a new website in October, http://www.drivingadvice.org.uk/, to help motorists prepare their cars and drive them safely this winter. The site also contains traffic updates and weather forecasts.
Tips include rain, snow, ice, fog and wind. Everything you can expect in a typically unpredictable British winter.
Winters' more treacherous driving conditions cause an increase in accident rates:
The rate of accidents amongst car users is 9.4 per cent higher in winter months (November - February) than the normal monthly average.
Slippery roads contributed to 20,003 road casualties in 2010, and related to 118 fatalities
Vision impaired by rain, sleet, snow, or fog contributed to 2,328 accidents in 2010, resulting in 3,318 casualties and 20 fatalities
IAM spokesperson Caroline Holmes said: "The number of serious crashes on Britain's roads is reducing and we want to see that trend continue. When the weather's bad motorists should always question whether they need to go out at all. Our website will help drivers make the right decision, prepare for winter and enjoy their driving, but do it safely."

Learners to be allowed on Motorways with ADIs
Road safety minister Mike Penning announced at the IAM annual lunch that learner drivers are to be allowed to have driving lessons on motorways.

The change, which will come into force in 2012, is intended to end the situation in which young drivers can be confronted with traffic driving at speeds of 70 mph or above without any preparation.

Under the plans announced by Mr Penning, it will be possible for learner drivers to undergo some training on a motorway - but only if accompanied by a qualified driving instructor in a dual -controlled car.

The change, however, will not be made compulsory because of the difficulties learner drivers in remote areas of the country would face in finding a motorway within a reasonable distance of where they lived.

Underpinning the move is concern at the number of young drivers being killed and seriously injured on the country's motorways. According to figures compiled by the Department for Transport 82 drivers under 21 were involved in fatal motorway crashes between 2006 and 2010.

"Are we teaching young drivers to pass a test or are we giving them the skills to enjoy life on the road," Mr Penning said. Since taking office Mr Penning has stopped driving test centres publicising the routes which will be used during the examination.

He has also banned the publishing of answers to the theory test to prevent candidates learning by rote.

In a further change Mr Penning plans to ban trainee driving instructors giving lessons unless they themselves are supervised by a fully qualified colleague. Currently trainee instructors can give tuition and the only indication a pupil has that their teacher is not fully qualified is a small screen sticker.

"I am going to put a stop to that," Mr Penning told The Daily Telegraph. "I am going to stop people who are not qualified doing this. Some of these guys never get qualified."
Ack: The Daily Telegraph

Ed: Mr Penning seems full of common sense - I've never understood the logic in publishing the answers to the theory test questions. As for not publicising routes - ADI's will soon get to find out what the routes are by quizzing their test candidates about the route used!

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