Just Tyres News

One in three motorists admits they will drive this winter without being able to see out of their windscreen properly according to research by Continental Tyres.

This will mean six million close calls on our roads this winter, as nearly two million drivers were close to crashing at least three times in the last year because their windscreen wasn’t clear before setting off.

Researchers found most motorists think they are ‘in too much of a rush’ to fully defrost their windows and mirrors before heading off to work. It also emerged men are far worse than women at pulling off the driveway while peering through a tiny spot of clear glass at the road ahead.

Preparation is key when setting out in your car, especially during the winter months. It is essential to be able to see and be seen, and an astonishing 52 per cent of people know it is wrong to drive without a fully clear windscreen but fail to do anything about it.

Stopping distances are affected by weather and road conditions and people are six times more likely to have an accident during the winter months. Check your lights, ensure your windscreen and windows are clear, that your brakes are in good condition, your tyres have a minimum of 3mm of tread and increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front.

It also emerged that four out of ten motorists don’t bother cleaning mirrors or rear windows before setting off in the winter. And such is the lack of preparation that one in five have reported to using a credit card to clear the windscreen of ice.

Seven out of ten never check tyre tread depth and fail to ensure tyres are roadworthy, and one in two never put anti-freeze in radiators. Four out of ten don’t check windscreen washer bottle levels and a similar figure don’t bother to check whether their wipers are working properly. A quarter don’t even check if their lights are working.

Eight in 10 see other motorists on their daily commute who have been too lazy to clear their windscreen, an average of four cars every frosty morning.

Almost four out of ten said they found it harder to stay alert during the winter.

One in five are under the wrong assumption that you’re supposed to drive ‘out of’ a skid when slipping on ice.

When the temperature drops below 7oC, cold weather tyres which have tread patterns and compounds designed for wintry roads are certainly worth considering. They improve stopping distances in icy, wet and any snowy conditions we might experience in the coming months. Again, it’s all about being prepared so that you are safe in all eventualities this winter.

Drive safe this winter and give yourself an extra few minutes to clear all of the windows in your vehicle before setting off.