Six Spring Driving Tips

At last, we can finally say goodbye to the dark mornings and early sunsets as we welcome spring!

The season brings more sunshine, flowers, new-born animals and (most importantly) easter eggs.

Spring also brings new driving conditions to be aware of. Drivers must adapt to seasonal driving changes to keep themselves and everyone else safe on the roads.

Read on for six spring driving tips.

Prepare for low sun

After a long and dark winter, it would be silly to complain about the sunnier days, but we’re going to anyway.

The low spring sun during the morning and evening commute can cause some serious glare on your windscreen.

Sun glare can minimise your driving visibility, making hazards difficult to spot.

Simple steps to prevent sun glare:

• Keep sunglasses in your car.
• Use the overhead visor to improve visibility.
• Always be alert – give yourself more time to react to potential dangers that you may not see until last minute.
• Keep your screenwash topped up and regularly clean the inside of your windscreen with a microfibre cloth and glass cleaner.

Check your wipers

A wet and snowy winter can really work your windscreen wipers, so it’s always a good idea to give them a check as we go into spring.

Make sure the wipers are clean and check the blades for any wear and tear.

If you find your wipers are leaving streaks of water across the glass or juddering as they wipe, they need replacing. Streaks from old wipers will worsen any sun glare, so be sure to replace them as soon as possible.

Take care in spring showers

I’m sure we’ve all heard of April showers. So, it may come as a surprise that April is actually one of the driest months. The phrase ‘April showers’ comes from the frequency of short, regular showers.

So, what does this have to do with driving?

Spring showers can create pools of surface water on the roads, posing a risk aquaplaning.

Driving on wet roads at high speeds can cause a wedge of water to build up between the tyres and the road surface. At this point, the tyres can lose grip with the road which causes a lack of traction.

This can lead to the driver losing control and being unable to brake, steer or accelerate. Aquaplaning can be a scary experience and can easily cause a dangerous accident.

How to know if your car is aquaplaning when driving on a wet road:

• The steering may become ‘light’
• Your engine can become louder all of a sudden
• You might experience the back end of your car drift from side to side – this is called ‘fishtailing’
• You may feel like you’ve dropped down some gears whilst driving at speed, causing the revs to increase

How to control an aquaplaning car:

• Gently ease off the accelerator
• Keep the steering wheel straight
• Refrain from hitting the brakes hard
• Be sure to switch off cruise control if you have it on
• As the car begins to gain control, you can start to brake to bring your speed down

Good news – there are ways to avoid aquaplaning!

Be sure to keep an eye on your speed, your tyres will have less chance of gripping the road if you’re travelling at high speed.

It’s also super important to keep your tyres in good condition.

You should do regular checks to ensure they are properly inflated and are in good, safe condition. Just check your car manual to find out what your car’s tyre pressure should be.

And, finally, prepare for the weather conditions. If you’re going on a long-distance drive, have a look at the weather conditions along your route before setting off.

As you drive, you’ll be able to see and feel when conditions change. To stay safe, you need to adapt and alter your driving technique according to the road conditions.

Look out for animals

Many animals and birds have their babies in spring. The new-borns can sometimes escape their enclosures, often getting lost on country roads.

Be extra careful when driving along rural roads – if you do spot an animal make sure you slow down and refrain from revving your engine.

Be aware of other road users and pedestrians

We’re all eager to get outdoors and enjoy the spring days after our winter hibernation.

So, you’re sure to see more walkers and cyclists on the roads as the days get longer and warmer.

Make sure to slow down for them and be considerate.

Spring is a popular time for motorcyclists too, always give them ample space and take extra caution when passing, merging, turning, and approaching junctions.

Keep an eye out for potholes

Now you may be thinking ‘Isn’t this an all-year-round pain in my ****?’

Yes, yes, it is. They can become an even bigger pain in spring, though.

With spring showers potholes can be hidden by puddles. When this happens, they become hard to spot and drive around.

Plus, new potholes may have formed in your local area after the wear and tear that Winter weather brings.

Always keep an eye out for potholes, old and new, and avoid them when possible.

If you do have to drive through one, approach slowly and leave plenty of room between yourself and the car in front of you.

Follow these six tips to help stay safe on the roads this spring! We hope everyone enjoys the sunny days ahead.

This Spring we’ve added a load of fresh deals to our site, so you can get some nice wheels at an even nicer price. It’s out with the old and in with the new – have a browse now.