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18 Bolton Independent ISSUE 47Independent MOTORINGSNOW JOKE FOR DRIVERS!ALL the weather forecastsseem pretty ominous so nowwould seem an appropriatetime to remind drivers of someof the tips and warnings thatcome at this time of year andunder these conditions.It is so often annoying and unbelievablesome of the types of drivingthat people do without taking intoaccount the road conditions. At bestdrivers are foolish and at worstdownright reckless, not only endangeringlives but also riskingprosecution.So with this is mind these are thepointers that you should follow tominimise the chance of problemsfor you and fellow motorists:1. DO THE WINTER CHECKS ONYOUR CARCheck the battery strength. Lowtemperatures can flatten weak batteriesovernight. If the battery isweak then re-charge OR replace it.Top up your screenwashers withcold weather screen wash to enableyou to clear your windscreens.Ensure you have enoughantifreeze in your radiator system,it could save you the cost of areplacement engine!Check your tyre pressures. Overinflated tyres will lose grip easieron slippery conditions.Doing these checks first canmean the difference between gettingto work or having a costly snowbound car awaiting repair.2. BEFORE DRIVING OFF:Ensure that you have cleared thedirt and frost from all your windowsnot just the front windscreen. It isa criminal offence not to be able tohave full visibility whilst drivingand the penalties for such anoffence is heavy fine or five yearsimprisonment. Also your insurancecompany may refuse to pay out if acollision occurs whilst your car iscovered in snow.Ensure that all your car lightsare clear of snow and that indicatorsare clearly visible so that otherdrivers can see your intentionsclearly.If it is snowing do not put on yourrear fog light. They distract followingdrivers and will obscure yourbrake lights, increasing the chanceof a rear end collision. It is also anoffence.When warming the car in themorning do not leave the car runningunattended. Many opportunistcar thieves look out for cars left ondrives or roads with engines running.3 DRIVING IN SNOW AND ICE:When driving in snow and ice youshould always drive in accordancewith the road conditions. It maysound ridiculous but many driversneed to told to slow down on theseroads.You may feel that your carcan stop as normal, but try tellingthat to your tyres as you slide oninvisible black ice into oncomingtraffic at a junction.Slow down and allow a greaterstopping distance from the car infront, this will allow you plenty oftime to steer clear of trouble if thedriver ahead hits problems.Put on your side or headlights ifvisibility is reduced, it allows otherdrivers to clearly see you and foryou to see them.Drive in a low gear when settingoff. Many drivers will rev thewheels fast when losing grip butthe best thing to do is set off slowlyand build up momentum andgrip, especially on untreated roadsor if travelling up hill.Drivers should also use theirgears to slow down rather thanheavy braking which may cause thecar to skid. If your car begins to skiddo not brake, put turn into the slideand attempt to steer the car to asafe stop.Do not ignore this advice anddrive as you usually do. It couldprove dangerous and costly to you.For more motoring news and tipsyou can tune into my radio show'The GT Driver'' every Thursday at8pm on 96.5 BOLTON FM.Jack MarsdenMotoring CorrespondentTHORNTREES GARAGEHigh Quality UsedWheelchair Adapted CarsSpeed up, slow down• Large choice with over 60 vehicles in stock• Wheelchair friendly premises with disabledtoilets and restroom• Home demonstrations throughout theNorth of England• Just off the M6 Junction 28• Use your DLA payment to finance yourpurchases01772 622688www.thorntreesgarage.co.ukjulie@thorntreesgarage.co.ukWigan Road, Leyland, Lancs PR25 5SBWE'RE constantly told that speedis important to getting thingsdone – in work, in life. Wedemand ever faster broadbandspeeds and want to be servedquicker at the supermarket, sowhat's the big deal over an extra10mph?Modern cars are more capableof coping with higher speedsthan those that saw the introductionof the national speed limitmany years ago.It figures, then, that suchprogress should herald anincrease to 80mph. We all livefast-paced lives, so it stands toreason that we shouldn't be heldback on some of our safest roads.And then there's the elephantin the room, or rather the countrywith derestricted highways –Germany.If German drivers can manageto play nice with each other athigh speeds, why can't we?It's not a watertight argument,though.Opponents point to the UK's'arm's length' approach to drivertraining as an area of concern.Our cars might have all the latestsafety kit, but are driversequipped to deal with the higherspeed? Remember, there'scurrently no mandatory motorwaytraining for learners.And then there's the cost ofmotoring at a time of high fuelprices. Running at 80mph burnsconsiderably more fuel than drivingat 70mph. The green lobbyisn't happy either, as more fuelburnt means more exhaust emissions.For or against, you can't avoidthe enforcement issue. Wouldraising the limit introduce a morerigid enforcement culture tomaintain a good safety margin?Will it be a blanket figure forall motorways, or will it dependon traffic volumes or weather?Will two-lane roads be excluded,for instance?It's a can of worms waiting tobe opened.