ROSPA - Drive with added caution amid looming cold weather

WITH icy temperatures and 'disruptive' snow hitting large parts of Britain, and parts of the UK still grappling with flooding, leading road experts The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has issued some vital road safety advice.

Advising on winter driving, Rebecca Guy, RoSPA’s Road Safety Manager for England, said:- "Snowy conditions can pose a real challenge for drivers so it’s worth knowing how to prepare yourself so your journey can be as smooth as possible. Before you set off, check the weather conditions to ensure you’re not caught out, and don’t forget to wipe off snow from the top and windows of your car. This will avoid snow falling onto your windscreen while driving and impacting your line of sight. In very bad conditions, avoid driving completely, unless you absolutely have to make the journey and driving is the only option. It’s also a good idea to leave more time than usual for your journey, and to check your tyres, fluid levels, lights and fuel or charge levels before you set off. If your journey is essential, packing some warm clothing, a fully charged mobile phone, some food and a drink can help you to be prepared if you do break down; and even a pair of sunglasses can stand you in good stead in case the sun comes out and reflects on the road ahead. If you can, try and move off in second gear and change to a higher gear as soon as possible once the car is moving. Ensure you accelerate gently and smoothly, using low revs. Ideally, stay in a steady gear and leave as much room in front of you as possible so you can maintain a constant speed; and don’t forget that stopping distance can be increased up to 10 times in snowy weather."

Other factors to consider if driving in snow or ice:-

Slow down in plenty of time before bends and corners.
Braking on an icy or snow-covered bend is extremely dangerous. The centrifugal force will continue to pull you outwards and the wheels will not grip very well. This could cause your vehicle to spin.
Increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front. You may need up to 10 times the distance for braking in good conditions.
Visibility will probably be reduced, so use dipped headlights.

If you get stuck in snow:-

If you get stuck in snow, revving your engine to try to power out of the rut will just make the rut worse. Instead, move your vehicle slowly backwards and forwards out of the rut using the highest gear you can.
If this doesn’t work, you may have to ask a friendly passerby for a push or get your shovel out.

Rebecca went on to advise those encountering flood water:- "The past few weeks have seen a concerning level of flooding in many areas of the UK. It is essential to have the latest information at hand to avoid roads or pathways that are submerged in water. Not only can a flooded car be costly, it can lead to drowning so it is important to never attempt to drive through a waterlogged area, especially If the road has been closed off. Before leaving the house, consider whether your vehicle really is in a roadworthy condition for extreme weather, and check its tyres, brakes, lights and fluid levels. If your vehicle is not in tip-top condition, you are more likely to break down and get stranded. Therefore, keep an emergency kit in your car, especially if you're going on a long journey. If this seems unnecessary, take a moment to imagine yourself stranded in your car overnight."

If you’re in a flooded area, it is also worth considering the following when nearing an affected road:-

Avoid the deepest water; which is usually near the kerb.
Don’t attempt to cross if the water seems too deep.
If you are not sure of the water's depth, look for an alternative route.
If you decide to risk it, drive slowly in first gear but keep the engine speed high by slipping the clutch; this will stop you from stalling
Be aware of the bow wave from approaching vehicles; operate an informal:- 'give way' with approaching vehicles.

For more Winter Driving Tips from ROSPA please download the group's advice sheet by clicking on here.

Who benefits? New report shoots down myths used by 'big ag' to make billions at expense of animals, people and planet

BENEFACT Group's Movement for Good Awards is back. Now in its 6th year, the awards are giving residents in Merseyside the opportunity to nominate a charity of their choice to receive £1,000.

The Movement for Good Awards will once again see more than £1million donated to charities up and down the UK and Ireland. Merseyside residents can quickly and easily nominate a good cause online at:- MovementForGood.Com.

Winners will be drawn at random and the more times a charity is nominated the more chance it has of being selected.

There will also be a series of special draws where charities operating within specific sectors can be nominated to receive a grant of £5,000, the timetable of draws can be viewed at:- MovementForGood.Com and donations will be announced throughout the year.

The Movement for Good Awards has donated over £5million to charities in the UK and Ireland since the initiative started in 2019. Comhaltas in Britain, which helps to preserve traditional Irish music in Britain through concerts and training, Teardrops Supporting Your Community, which supports the homeless and vulnerable in St Helens, and 4th Heswall (St Peters) Sea Scout Group, are some of the Merseyside causes that have previously benefitted from the funding thanks to nominations from the public.

Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, says:- "Benefact Group is a family of award-winning specialist financial services companies and the third largest corporate donor to charity in the UK. Owned by a charity ourselves, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do. All of our available profits go to good causes and the more the Group grows, the more the Group can give. We are delighted to be able to donate over £1million to good causes each year through our Movement for Good Awards and are grateful to all our supporters, including the customers of the trusted insurer, Ecclesiastical, and the responsible and sustainable asset manager, EdenTree. Our Movement for Good Awards help charities change lives for the better and we know that for many charities, £1,000 can make a real difference."

Benefact Group has donated over £200million to charitable causes since 2014 and last year was recognised as the 3rd biggest corporate giver in the UK. The organisation aims to reach £250million in donations by 2025.

Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.

Nominations made from:- 1 Janyuary 2024 to 19 December 2024 will be entered into all remaining £1,000 draws. Nominations from previous years do not roll over. Please visit:- MovementForGood.Com to nominate a charity now.