Motorist Tips - Is your vehicle ready for winter?

As it starts to get colder and the weather conditions get worse, it is really important that all road users are driving road worthy vehicles. The best thing to do is to take your vehicle to a Unipart Car Care Centre where you can get it checked in accordance with the manufacturer's service schedule and make sure it is safe for the road ahead. However, there are a few things that you can do yourself to ensure your vehicle is in the best condition for the winter roads. Below are a few motorist tips to help you be better prepared.

• Keep your screen wash topped up- During the winter when the roads are wetter, spray from other vehicles can cover your windscreen and impair vision creating difficult driving conditions. Always ensure your screen wash is topped up so you are able to keep a clean screen! Another handy tip is to use more concentrated (up to 50% mix) screen wash during the colder months, this helps to prevent the fluid from freezing.
• Ensure you windscreen wipers work effectively- Examine the blades on the front and rear wipers to ensure they are not worn. If they are, either replace them yourself or visit your local Unipart Car Care Centre where they will replace them for you.
• Check your tyres - Low tread or unevenly worn tyres are dangerous, particularly during the winter months when the roads are more slippery. We'd recommend a tread depth of around 3mm - nearly double the 1.6mm required by law - to be safe. Don't forget to check the spare, too.
• Regularly check your lights- For many drivers, it will now be dark when you leave for work and dark when you leave to go home. Ensure that you check all the lights on your vehicle regularly to ensure the vehicle is safe and legal. Replace the bulbs as and when you need to.
• Keep a shovel, de-icer spray and ice scraper in the boot of you vehicle. It is also advisable to keep some bottled water and a warm blanket in case you get stranded.

We hope you found these motorist tips useful. If you are in any doubt when it comes to doing work on your vehicle, please contact your local Unipart Car Care Centre.