Tag Archives: Winter

What To Keep In Your Car In The Winter

SnowDuring wintry conditions such as snow and ice you are possibly more likely to be involved in a road traffic accident. However, you also need to be more prepared should you break down and find yourself caught up in adverse weather. Here in most parts of the UK, we are fortunate that we do not usually get many days when the weather is very poor but it is still a sensible thing to plan for such an eventuality.

So, what sorts of things should you consider carrying in your vehicle at this time of year here in the UK? Well, the following list is not exhaustive but should hopefully be of assistance to you.

1. First aid kit – this should be carried in your car throughout the year.
2. Mobile phone along with a charger so that you can contact the emergency services, family and friends should you require help.
3. Spade to clear away ice/snow should you be unable to pull away in slippery conditions.
4. De-icer and ice scraper to keep your car windows free of snow and ice.
5. A blanket to wrap around you or a sleeping bag to slip into should you have to spend the night in your car until help arrives. This will help you to keep warm in freezing outside temperatures.
6. A couple of reflective warning triangles with one being placed several yards in front of your stranded vehicle and the other a similar distance to the rear of your car.
7. A torch along with batteries that could be used to help attract attention or light up the inside of the car.Whistle
8. An atlas should you get lost in inclement weather.
9. Chocolate bars for nourishment as well as fluids to drink – ideally a flask of hot tea or coffee.
10. Extra clothing such as jumper, waterproof coat, hat, socks, trousers and gloves.
11. A pair of boots in case you need to walk through deep snow.
12. A whistle may prove useful if you needed to attract attention whilst stranded.
13. Jump leads should your battery have run flat and you need assistance to get you started.
14. Fuel canister should you run out of petrol/diesel and it be safe to walk to the nearest service station to fill it up.

There may well be some other things that you feel it is a good idea to bring with you but we hope that the above list is of benefit.

Whilst Defrosting Your Car Don’t Leave It Unattended

DefrostIt is that time of year when you wake up to find that there has been a severe frost meaning that you or, if you are lucky, your partner needs to de-ice the car windows before setting off to work or dropping the children off at school. Time is usually at a premium first thing in a morning and nobody likes to stand outside in freezing temperatures scraping the ice off the windscreen.

Unfortunately, a lot of people make the mistake of popping out to their car, start the engine, put the heating on at full blast and then go straight back inside their warm home leaving the engine running with the keys still in the vehicle and have their breakfast or finish getting ready for work. Why do we say this is unfortunate?

Well, a lot of motorists do not realize that, if their vehicle is stolen by a car thief whilst being left say unattended on their drive or on the road outside the front of their home, their car insurance provider will not pay out should you submit a claim as this sort of situation is not covered on the policy. Needless to say, this would be devastating news as you could be left with having to pay out many thousands of pounds to find another vehicle and still have to maintain the car loan repayments on the vehicle that has been stolen.

It is also worth noting that, if you leave your car unattended on say a public road with the car engine running, you are breaking the law and could be subject to a fine if caught by the police. Furthermore, if you do not completely clear your car windows of snow and frost before driving it then you could be subject to a fine of £60 and also receive 3 penalty points on your driving license that could also mean your motor insurance premiums going up.

So, tempting as it may be, do not leave your car unattended with the engine running to defrost the windows otherwise it could end up being a costly decision in more ways than one. Instead, why not get up a few minutes earlier than normal, wrap yourself up to keep warm and get the ice scrapper out and get rid of the unwanted snow and ice from all the windows on your vehicle.

For comprehensive cover on your vehicle give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak to a friendly, knowledgeable member of the team who will discuss your requirements and obtain a quotation from our extensive panel of quality insurers.