Winter Driving Advice From The RAC

The last few winters in the UK haven’t exactly been conducive to safe, easy driving. Between, the snow, freezing temperatures, wind and driving rain, motorists in the UK have a lot to deal with through the dark months of the year.

But with the correct preparation and some considered planning and forethought there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to safely stay on the road this winter.

The 10 point check

1.     Check your car battery strength and charge it if necessary. If your battery is more than 3 years old it’s even more important to do this.
2.     Make sure you have plenty of tyre tread. Also check for damage such as splits or bulges and make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.
3.     Check your screen wash and use one with protection that works down to -35c at dilution one part screen wash to one part water.
4.     Make sure your coolant is between the minimum and maximum markers and that there is sufficient anti-freeze in the coolant.
5.     Test your windscreen wipers for damage and replace them if needed.
6.     Carry extra items in the car just in case you get stuck. It’s a good idea to carry the following items:

·         A Shovel to help clear ice

·         Bottled water

·         Snacks – chocolate or cereal bars

·         Bits of carpet or thick cardboard to place under driven wheels to help regain traction on ice or snow

·         Salt, sand or cat litter – to help clear snow and ice

·         Reflective jacket(s)

·         De-icer and ice scraper

·         Extra screen wash

·         Warm clothes and a blanket or sleeping bag for you and your passengers

·         Battery jump leads

·         Torch with spare batteries

·         Tow rope

·         Snow chains (if you live in a remote or rural area)

7.     Plan your journey, and if the weather is really bad consider whether the journey is really necessary. Even if you’re not embarking on a particularly long journey, tell someone where you are going – it could even be the people you are going to see – what time you’re leaving and when you expect to arrive.
8.     Take extra care when driving in snow and ice and follow our tips:

·         Accelerate slowly using low revs. You might need to move off in second gear to help decrease wheel slip

·         Leave as much as 10 times the normal recommended gap between you and the car in front

·         If you skid, steer into it.  e.g. if the rear of the vehicle is sliding to the left, steer to the left. Don’t take your hands off the steering wheel or stamp on the brakes

·         If the road hasn’t been gritted, be careful when driving in the wheel tracks of other cars as compressed snow can be icy

·         Operate the brakes, steering, brakes and accelerating smoothly and slowly

9.     Make sure you have full visibility before you set off on a journey. If you can’t fully see where you’re going, you’re not safe. That means ensuring all your windows and lights are clear from frost and in working order.
10.  Take care when driving in heavy rain and flooded roads:

a.     Look out for large or fast-moving vehicles creating spray, which reduces visibility.

b.    Reduce speed and leave more space between you & the vehicle in front to account for greater stopping distances.

c.     Don't use rear fog lights. They can mask your brake lights & dazzle drivers behind you.

d.    If you do go through water, drive in the highest section of the road.

A great list of driving tips to put into practice this winter! If you need further help with winter driving (or any aspect of driving) then why not contact our driving school to see how we can help?

Our new automatic driving school car

Take a look at our new automatic car, the brand new Hyundai i10 Active. It's a great car to learn in due to it's great manoeuvreability and compactness for town driving. Our new automatic instructor Avis will be using it and I'll be sticking for the moment with my VW Polo for automatic lessons as well as my Ford Fiesta Edge for manual lessons.

Remember if you need automatic lessons in and around Kent then click on the link and find out how we can help.

Eyes: The most important part of your body!

Recently I've been doing some research into how poor eyesight can affect a person's ability to drive. It's been estimated that around 90% of the vital information that a driver needs is taken visually, so clearly it's the most important physical tool we have when on the roads. When a person takes the practical driving test they are required to be able to read a number plate from a minimum distance of 20.5 metres. This is a legal requirement and should be checked regularly to avoid a deterioration in the eyes, often that a person will not realise over time. However, how many of us do this? A recent nationwide survey carried out by opticians found as many as 3.5m people could be driving with eyesight below the legal minimum. A survey has also revealed that 22% of British drivers who wear corrective eyewear have knowingly driven without them. Ultimatley it's up to each person to ensure that their vision is up to legal requirements - it could end up saving your life!

Remember we offer the very best driving lessons in Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks and automatic driving lessons in Tunbridge Wells. Click on the links to find out how we can help you learn to drive.

New automatic instructor!

I'm pleased to announce that from Sep 5th we'll have a new automatic driving instructor starting with us. Her name is Avis Ryder and we're pleased to have her onboard due to the almost 20 years she's had working as an instructor. She'll be working purely for the Tunbridge Wells Automatic Driving School, part of the Jody Thomas Driving School in the brand new Kia Picanto. We'll post some pics of Avis with the new car once it's been delivered.

Automatic or manual - which one is for you?

Recently we started offering automatic driving lessons in Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks at the Jody Thomas Driving School. Not only that but I've also formed the Tunbridge Wells Automatic Driving School to offer specialist automatic tuition. But a lot of people ask me what are the advantages and disadvantages of learning in an automatic car over a manual one, so I've decided to list a few of the key things to consider:

Advantages of learning in an automatic

• It's quicker and cheaper to learn in. Many of the early problems for someone who's learning in a manual stem from difficulty using the clutch and gears which of course is not a worry in an automatic. On average people learning in an automatic will take 10 hours less than in a manual vehicle.
• It requires far less effort and can be a safer option. If a person is doing a lot of town driving in a manual car then a lot of clutch work is required, pressing and depressing it along with constant gear changing. This can be a bit of a hassle for the driver. Also, an automatic is a safer option because without having to change gears you can keep two hands on the wheel at all times

Disadvantages of learning in an automatic  

• Vehicle costs. Automatic cars are generally more expensive to buy as they have a more complicated transmission, therefore costing more to manufacture. A typical car that costs around £12,000 will generally cost £1,000 more in an automatic version.
• Fuel costs. This can change from car to car but on average a manual car will produce 1 to 3 miles per gallon more than an automatic.
• Less speed and control. Generally it's possible to get more speed out of a manual transmission and as you are in control of the gears, this filters down to having a greater control over the vehicle.

So there you have it. These are just the main points to consider, but if you dig a little deeper then you'll find all sorts of different types of automatics such as semi-autos and manumatic transmissions, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. Remember that we're always available for advice through our websites at www.jodythomasdriving.co.uk and www.tunbridgewellsautomaticdrivingschool.co.uk or you can call me personally on 07717805566.

The Tunbridge Wells Automatic Driving School

I'm pleased to announce the launch of my new business, the Tunbridge Wells Automatic Driving School, where we specialise in automatic driving lessons. Currently we are providing lessons in and around the Kent and East Sussex areas, covering Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks test centres. We use a modern VW polo with many optional extras such as aircon and heated mirrors. I've noticed an increased demand in customers looking for automatic lessons for various reasons - some have tried a manual and can't get on with using the clutch/gears and some need to pass quickly for various reasons and this is done more easily in an automatic. We've decided that by opening an automatic driving school we can offer specialist automatic tuition and provide a better service to automatic customers. You can click the various links below to get more info (our Facebook and Google + pages are still in their infancy so you can expect more content to be added to those in the coming weeks!)

Website - automatic driving school    
Facebook - click here
Google + - click here