Storm Eunice is bringing with it heavy winds to parts of the UK and snow to Scotland.
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for Edinburgh over the weekend as icy and windy conditions could cause travel disruptions.
Road users and commuters are urged to take caution when travelling as stormy weather could make the journey unpredictable.
READ MORE- Storm Eunice forces Edinburgh ScotRail cancellations as heavy snow hits Scotland
HGV recruitment specialists, Driver Hire Training, have put together top tips for keeping road-safe when driving in poor weather conditions.
With storm Eunice hitting across the UK, there will be many people considering how best they can stay safe on upcoming drives.
Over Saturday and Sunday February 20, icy conditions, strong winds and heavy rain is forecasted for Edinburgh.
With this in mind HGV training and recruitment experts, Driver Hire Training, have created some tip tips on keeping road-safe when driving in poor weather conditions.
Only drive if you need to
The weather warnings as a result of storm Eunice, especially in the south of the country, should not be ignored.
You should only travel in severe weather conditions if you absolutely need to, and if so, it’s advised to take precautions.
Keep up to date with all Storm Eunice news with our live blog here.
A full vehicle check
Before setting off, you should take extra care in ensuring your car is fit for purpose. In bad weather, it is recommended that you have at least 3mm of grip on your tyres to give you the traction you need on wet surfaces.
Furthermore, roads can become extremely dirty during poor weather so it’s imperative to ensure visibility when driving won’t be affected.
To do this, check your wiper blades are intact and working correctly, along with making sure your screen wash fluid and use a product that is effective down to at least -15C as this will help rid the windscreen of dirt.
Driving in bad weather conditions
Driving in extreme weather conditions should be avoided, however, this isn’t always possible. Remember the following points for driving in fog, torrential rain, and high winds.
Keep up to date with all Storm Eunice news with our live blog here.
Driving in rain
One of the biggest risks when driving in rain is aquaplaning, where a layer of water builds up between your tyres and the surface of the road.
If you’re vehicle starts to aquaplane, do not break, instead just remove your foot from the accelerator and allow your car to slow down gradually.
Driving in fog
Make sure you are using your fog lights only if visibility is less than 100 metres, if you can see further then use your dipped headlights instead.
Fog can also be patchy, so if it starts to clear up, do not see this is a sign to speed up – you could easily run back into the fog a few miles down the road.
Driving in high winds: High winds make it more difficult to handle a vehicle, so you should keep a firm grip on the wheel. If at any point you don’t feel comfortable continuing tod drive, you should pull over to a safe space until the wind calms.
Create space
Always leave more than enough room between you and the vehicle in front of you, this is your safety buffer.
Drivers should also ensure they are maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles to avoid any debris in the road.
When roads are wet it takes twice as long to stop – so be mindful of your distance!
Lights on
Although some vehicles do have automatic lights, it’s always important to check they’re on and that you’re visible to other drivers and pedestrians.
It may not be overly dark, but bad weather can make your vehicle less visible.
Keep your car clean
Dirty roads are more common in poor weather, and this dirt can very quickly build up dirt on your vehicle.
It’s important to make sure that your car is clean in the areas it needs to be, the windscreen, lights and especially around your licence plates as drivers can be fined up £1,000 for driving with number plates that cannot be clearly read.
Be prepared and carry essentials
Make sure you’re prepared for any eventuality and direction the weather could take. You should consider carrying items such as: an ice scraper, de-icer, torch, spare batteries, first aid kid, extra thermal layers, dry spare shoes, shovel, jump leads, warning triangles, and a charger for your phone
Richard Owen-Hughes, Marketing Director at Driver Hire says: “When it comes to driving in extreme weather conditions it’s important to always make sure that your vehicle is in a fit state to be driven.
"Give it a full check before setting off, looking at the likes of coolant and tyre treads, as well as just making sure you take extra care whilst behind the wheel.
"In the current weather warnings, it’s important to only drive if you need to and take essentials with you to stay safe should you have to stop the vehicle.”
