Avoid a winter breakdown this year
Posted by Tom Benjamin
A breakdown is hard to deal with at any time, but in the winter it poses more danger as the temperatures are lower, the weather can be horrendous and you could be left waiting for a long time awaiting rescue as it is one of the busiest periods of the year for breakdown assistance firms.
And with one of the worst winters on record forecast this year, now is the time to start thinking about taking action to reduce the likelihood you will become a winter breakdown victim.
Luckily there are a range of simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of finding yourself stranded at the side of the road in a blizzard waiting for your breakdown assistance company to reach you.
The age old saying of fail to prepare, prepare to fail is something motorists should definitely take heed of, and it certainly rings true when it comes to winter driving. Preparation is a key factor in reducing the risk of a breakdown.
Cars need particular attention during the winter as the cold weather and the difficult driving conditions certainly take their toll on a motor.
If your car is due for a regular service, don't put it back until after the winter, as quite simply this is a false economy and increases the risk of your car giving up the ghost.
It's tempting to put off getting a service until the new year, when all of the expenses of Christmas are over and done with, but this could lead you to spending a fortune to repair a problem that could have been rectified before it caused you to break down.
For those who do not want to get their car serviced there are a number of simple measures that will reduce the risk of a breakdown over the winter months.
Monitoring the levels of fluids in your vehicle is crucial, including engine coolant, antifreeze, oil and brake fluid, as well as checking that all your lights and indicators are working before heading out in the winter.
Ensuring your car's tyre pressures are correct and that there is adequate tread depth is also important, and make sure you check the spare as it's an easy one to forget.
Topping up your windscreen washer bottle is also vital as snow and ice throw up a lot of dirt during the winter, particularly once the council begins to spread salt on the roads. It is important to increase the concentration of screenwash and use a fluid that won't freeze when the mercury drops well below zero as it is predicted to do this year.
Of course, sometimes a breakdown is destined to happen and there is nothing you can do to prevent it, so the very least you can do is to be prepared for a winter disaster.
Make sure you stick to major roads as they are more likely to be gritted by the local authority, as many councils are not committing to keeping smaller roads gritted amid fears over cutting costs. Staying on major arterial routes will also increase the chances of being discovered if you have a crash or do in fact breakdown.
Travelling with a warning triangle is advised as well as a florescent jacket, a first aid kit, some blankets, warm clothing and jump leads, as you never know when they may come in handy.
Of course, a fully-charged mobile phone and a torch with working batteries are also vital.
Carrying contact details for a breakdown assistance company can also hurry along the process of getting a car back on the road, with paper and pen making it easier to record any information that the firm provides during a phone call.
