Cyprus News | Advice for winter 2016

 

Of all the seasons, winter requires the most care and preparation if you're to stay safe and avoid a breakdown.

Breakdowns are more common at this time of year - we have extra patrols on call as the number of breakdowns nearly doubles during particularly cold spells - and road conditions can be really challenging, particularly when rain falls and ice strike.

Here's our general advice for safe and trouble free driving through the cold, dark months ahead. 

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Battery and electrics

Lights, heaters and wipers put high demands on the car battery. If your driving is mainly dark rush-hour trips, the battery will give out eventually.

Batteries rarely last longer than five years.  Replacing one near the end of its life can save a lot of time and inconvenience at the side of the road.

• Avoid running electrical systems any longer than necessary – turn the heater fan down and switch the heated rear window off once windows are clear.
• If the car stands idle most of the weekend a regular overnight trickle charge is a good idea to give the battery a chance to revive.
• Turn off non-essential electrical loads like lights, rear screen heater and wipers before trying to start the engine.
• Use the starter in short five-second bursts if the engine doesn't start quickly, leaving thirty seconds between attempts to allow the battery to recover.

Driving in snow and ice

Gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving - stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice and snow.

• Wear comfortable, dry shoes for driving. Cumbersome, snow-covered boots will slip on the pedals.
• Pull away in second gear, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.
• Up hill – avoid having to stop part way up by waiting until it is clear of other cars or by leaving plenty of room to the car in front. Keep a constant speed, choosing the most suitable gear well in advance to avoid having to change down on the hill.
• Down hill – reduce your speed before the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid using the brakes. Leave as much room as possible between you and the car in front.
• If you have to use brakes then apply them gently.
• Automatic transmission - under normal driving conditions (motorways, etc) it's best to select 'Drive' and let the gearbox do the work throughout the full gear range. In slippery, snowy conditions it's best to select '2', which limits the gear changes and also makes you less reliant on the brakes. Some autos have a 'Winter' mode which locks out first gear to reduce the risk of wheel spin. Check the handbook.

If you get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels. Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip. Once on the move again, try not to stop until you reach firmer ground.

• Make sure you claim all the financial support you can to help with heating bills.

• Dress in plenty of layers and make sure you have warm shoes or boots with non-slip soles.
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• Keep basic food items in the cupboard or freezer in case it’s too cold to go shopping. 

 

Winter 2016 in Cyprus  will be healthy and much more interesting if our advice listed above are been used. 

                                                                                         thanks 

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