The Skoda Rapid Spaceback is a surefooted family car that’s equally at home on the road during the winter or summer months. However, every car is only as good as the driver, and it can be easy to become complacent on winter roads. After all, when you’re wrapped up warm in a toasty car, and it’s cold outside, it can be all to easy to switch off. Let’s take a look at five useful winter driving tips.
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Check the Weather
At this time of year, the weather can be quite changeable, so it’s essential to check the weather forecast for your area before you set off on a car journey. Mother nature can quickly turn a pleasant sunny winter day into a vicious thunderstorm, so it makes sense to stay informed.
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Plan Ahead
If you’re planning a journey over the winter break, make sure you plan ahead appropriately. Even if you set off early, it’s likely that many other people will have had the same idea and you can still end up in a traffic jam. So, always set realistic journey and arrival times to prevent putting yourself under pressure and causing an accident. If you want to get really good at planning, have an alternative route planned that you can switch to if things get too bad.
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Take Your Time
If you need a few days to reach your destination, make sure that you take some time to enjoy the journey. When you rush, you increase the chance that you’re going to end up in some kind of trouble due to self imposed time pressures. If you’re more relaxed about the journey, you may notice things that you’ve missed in the past. Winter roads can be slippery, so it’s a great idea to go slow and steady.
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Get a Good Playlist
It’s likely that you’re going to be in the car for an extended period of time, so it makes sense to get some great tunes set up on your favourite media player. Some well ordered music can relieve the boredom and inspire some fun singalongs. Pack in some summer tunes to remind you and your family about the warmer days to come and you could put a smile on everyone’s face.
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Give Your Car Some Attention
It’s always a great idea to get your car checked before the winter months arrive and before you take a longer road trip. Make sure to check your tyre pressures, oil levels, coolant levels, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and top up that windscreen wiper fluid bottle. Then take some time to check all of your lights, including your fog lights so that you’re sure that they are working. Make sure that your spare tyre is in good condition so that’s it’s ready to use if you get a flat tyre on the trip.
