Navigating Winter Driving Hazards

Ice and fog make driving conditions more difficult than usual, and it isn’t just winter weather that puts your vehicle at risk; car theft also spikes dramatically during the winter months. In this article, the Gallagher Risk Management team provides useful tips to help you mitigate common winter risks and keep you on the road this season.

Extended braking distances in winter conditions

When driving in wintry conditions, one of the first adjustments most drivers make is to their driving style and speed. It's crucial to understand that stopping distances can increase significantly on snow or ice, which is essential for reducing the risk of collisions.

According to the Highway Code, under normal driving conditions, stopping safely at 30 miles per hour requires a distance of at least six car lengths, and at 60 miles per hour, at least 24 car lengths¹. These figures do not account for slippery roads or poor visibility.

In wet conditions, braking distances can be doubled, and on ice or snow, they can increase tenfold. This means that in icy conditions, it could take more than the length of seven football pitches to come to a stop from 70 miles per hour. Reduced visibility can also impact reaction times, so it’s crucial to drive slower and maintain a greater distance from the vehicle in front. Additionally, in snowy or icy conditions, use the highest gear possible to help prevent wheel spin and avoid increasing your speed. When driving downhill, select third or fourth gear to help prevent skidding.

Driving in heavy rain

Even a downpour of rain can change road conditions in an instant—increasing the risks of skidding, aquaplaning and vehicle damage from driving through floodwater. To reduce your risk:

• Do not attempt to cross a flooded road if you are uncertain of the depth
• If you do need to go through surface water, drive slowly in first gear to help prevent stalling and keep the engine rev count up to keep water out of the exhaust pipe
• Always test your brakes after driving through floodwater
• Avoid using cruise control when roads are slippery, or it could increase your chances of sliding
• In the event of aquaplaning, slow down immediately to allow the tyres to reconnect with the road

Precautions to take in the fog

Driving in fog presents significant risks due to drastically reduced visibility. The dense fog can obscure road markings, traffic signals, and other vehicles, making it difficult to judge distances and detect potential hazards. To reduce your risk:

• Use fog lights only when visibility is less than 100 metres; otherwise, they can dazzle other drivers
• Switch to dipped headlights when fog lights are on and avoid following the lights of the vehicle in front to help prevent confusion
• If visibility worsens further, listen for traffic at junctions by opening your windows to better detect approaching vehicles

Driving safely in snow and ice

Driving in snowy conditions poses several dangers due to reduced traction and visibility. Snow can create slippery surfaces, leading to longer stopping distances and an increased risk of skidding. To reduce your risk:

• Think twice about overtaking; if enough time has been given for the journey, it’s better to keep your speed down
• Pay more attention to the road and be aware of icy patches in shaded areas
• Make sure the vehicle is ventilated to stop the windscreen from misting up and to stop the vehicle from getting stuffy
• Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin whilst taking care not to let your speed creep up
• When driving downhill, choose third and fourth gear to help prevent skidding
• Drivers using a manual car should start in second gear rather than first to minimise the risk of wheels spinning
• Use your brake gently to avoid locking the wheels — gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving
• Ice forms first on bridges, overpasses, and shady areas. When driving over patches of ice, decelerate slowly and hold the car steady

Additionally, if you do get stuck, do not spin your wheels, as this will only dig you in deeper. Instead, turn your wheels from side-to-side a few times to push snow out of the way, and lightly touch the accelerator to help ease the car out. If this doesn’t work, use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car, and pour sand, gravel, or salt in the path of the wheels to help get traction.

Preventing car theft

Another risk in the winter months is car theft, which increases along with other types of theft at this time of year. To help prevent this type of theft, you should consider the following⁴:

• Avoid street parking at night; if possible, park off the street to reduce the risk of theft, and if you must park on the street, ensure that you remove or hide any valuables
• Install a tracking device to alert you to suspicious activity and help authorities locate your car if it is stolen
• Always lock your car and double-check that it is secured before walking away, especially if you’re in a hurry
• Install home security features such as motion detectors, CCTV, and smart doorbells to help protect your car while it is parked at home
• Use visible deterrents such as a steering wheel lock or wheel clamp to deter thieves by adding an extra layer of defence
• Buy a signal-blocking pouch or Faraday bag to help prevent keyless entry theft and keep spare keys in a safe, signal-blocking location
• Park defensively by using a less valuable car to block and protect a more expensive one, if possible

What should you be advising employees?

In adverse weather conditions, it is important to assess whether journeys should be taken at all. The best thing to do in bad weather is to stay off the roads altogether. If travel is necessary, responsible planning should be involved, for example, avoiding unsalted and ungritted roads, steep hills, and areas with heavy traffic. You should encourage employees to schedule time for rest stops, comply with speed limits, and factor in traffic conditions. You should also make sure that employees are aware of the emergency arrangements and that they know what to do in the event of an accident, breakdown, or getting stuck, and ensure that vehicles contain adequate equipment.

Closing thoughts

In summary, ensuring that you take extra precautions when driving in the winter is crucial to ensuring your safety against the threats of ice, snow, fog, rain, and even theft. Planning and caution are the key activities to mitigate these risks and help to minimise the potential for unexpected financial losses as well as a risk to life or serious injury.

If you wish to find out more about how Gallagher’s Risk Management solutions can help you mitigate risk and improve your fleet risk management strategy, please call 0800 138 7538.