Keep Warm, Keep Well

Feeling safe at home

The dark cold nights can encourage bogus callers to target older and vulnerable people. Distraction burglaries often increase during winter, particularly around Christmas. Older people, in particular, are often targeted by scammers, in their homes If you have elderly neighbours, check in with them if you notice anything suspicious taking place. If you or someone you know may have been a victim of doorstep crime or rouge traders, our Business Compliance Team are on hand to help.

Weather forecast

Check the weather forecast and follow our social media channels for updates on any services affected by bad weather.

You can also check for any nearby flooding or flood alerts.

Winter driving

Driving in the winter is very different than in other times of the year. Make sure your vehicle is weather ready – check tyre treads, screen wash, have a blanket and torch in the car and check your route before you leave.

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Battery and electrics

• Batteries rarely last longer than five years. Replacing them near the end of their life can save a lot of time and inconvenience at the side of the road.
• Avoid running car electrics any longer than necessary. Turn the heater fan down and switch the heated rear window off once windows are clear.
• When you're starting up the car ensure that non-essentials, like lights, rear screen heater and wipers are turned off.

Anti-freeze

• Anti-freeze costs only a few pounds but a cracked engine block will cost hundreds of pounds to repair.
• The majority of modern cars use long-life antifreeze. If you're not sure what type of antifreeze is in your car, take it to a dealer.
• A 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water in the cooling system is needed in winter.

Vision

• Through the winter months dazzle from the low sun can be a particular problem.
• Improve vision significantly by making sure that the windscreen is clean - inside and out.
• Use air-conditioning for faster demisting and to reduce condensation on cold windows.
• Check windscreen wipers and replace if necessary.
• Make sure that wipers are switched off when leaving the car where there's risk of freezing.
• Windscreen washer fluid should be checked and topped up when necessary.
• Clear snow from the roof as well as from windows.

Visibility

• Check that all bulbs are working and that headlights are clean and aimed correctly.
• You must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced. You may also use front or rear fog lights but these must be switched off when visibility improves.
• Keep the number plates clean too as you can be fined if they are dirty and illegible.

Tyres

• Check all tyres for condition, pressure and tread depth. At least 3mm of tread is recommended for winter motoring and certainly no less than 2mm.
• It's rare to need snow chains unless you live in an isolated area hit with heavy snow and where the roads are not cleared. Have a look at our gritting routes to check where you live, or the roads you use will be gritted.
• Consider changing to winter tyres. These give a better grip in cold, wet conditions.

Preparing to travel

• Get up at least ten minutes early to give you time to prepare your car.
• Clear all windows of snow and ice using a scraper and de-icer.
• As well as an ice scraper and de-icer, it's worth carrying other items. These could include a mobile phone with fully charged battery, torch, First Aid kit, blankets, warm coat and shoes, jump leads, warning triangle and bottles of water.
• Plan routes to favour major roads which are more likely to have been gritted.
• Put safety before punctuality when the bad weather closes in!

Driving in snow and ice

• Stopping distances are ten times longer in ice and snow.
• Gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving.
• Wear comfortable and dry shoes.
• Select second gear when pulling away, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.
• Try to maintain a constant speed. Choosing the most suitable gear in advance to avoid having to change down while climbing a hill.
• Always apply brakes gently. Release them and de-clutch if the car skids.