An image of a road covered in snow and ice with tall trees on either side.

Is your car ready for winter driving?

Winter often means freezing rain, slippery roads, and black ice. Drivers need to use extreme caution when driving in this kind of weather as the chances of losing control of the vehicle are greater.


Safe driving tips for winter

If you'll be driving in the snow this winter, here is a reminder of some of the crucial safety tips to follow:

  • Check that your tyres, brakes, windscreens, and wiper blades are clean and free from defects.
  • Clear ice off your vehicle and make sure your windows are not misted up.
  • Warm up your vehicle before driving.
  • Drive slowly and leave plenty of space between vehicles.
  • If you start to slide, steer into the skid.
  • When the roads are icy, drive at a slow speed in a high gear.

If the ground is icy and you're struggling to get started, try pulling away in second gear. This should make it easier to get you going, as pulling away in first gear on ice won't give you as much grip.

Essential winter driving kit to have in your car

At Highland Industrial Supplies we have several products that aid in winter motoring.

The first product to use is our white de-icing salt. It is a marine salt harvested from sustainable sources around the Mediterranean Sea and is almost 100% pure sodium chloride. Spread it across your driveway before you plan to drive anywhere.

Then you need to de-ice the car. The Autoglym De-Icer is harmless when in contact with vehicle paintwork, rubber, plastics, and glass but is still effective down to -50°C. It can be safely used on windows, mirrors, headlamps, and door locks, enabling you to set off on your journey as soon as possible.

You can always pre-empt the ice-covered windscreen problem with Polygard Arctic Screenwash. It is formulated to clean while protecting against ice formation on the windscreen down to -20°C when used neat. It is suitable for year-round use and contains a unique blend of detergents and additives to remove grime, traffic film, and insect debris even when used under summer conditions at a dilution of 1:15 in clean water.

And if it's dark outside when you need to get up and go, watch your footing with a Ledco P3 Pocket Torch. The P3 is under four inches long and about as thick as an average pen, making it perfect for a pocket.

So, if you’re out and about this winter, do drive safely in the snow.