Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Northumbria Police are urging motorists to drive carefully during the winter months, with advice to stay safe in potentially dangerous conditions.
Although road conditions in Tyne and Wear have improved since the heavy snow and low temperatures last week, motorists should continue to take care on the region's roads and not to be too confident as the thaw presents its own problems.
Drivers should exercise caution and remember the following advice for driving in wintry conditions:
- Moderate your speed to match the conditions but try not to brake sharply, use the gears instead to decelerate
- Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front – stopping distances are longer on wet or icy roads
- Ensure you have adequate visibility by clearing front and back windscreens and all windows/wing mirrors before setting off
- Keep your windscreen washer bottle topped up, with the addition of winter screen wash
- Clean your headlights front and rear before driving and use dipped headlights when driving in poor visibility, including heavy rain as well as snow
- Be alert for pedestrians walking on roads when footpaths are too snowy or icy to use
- An ice scraper and de-icer should be carried for day to day use, whilst other useful items include: A torch, warm clothes and a blanket, boots, first aid kit, a shovel, a battery, jump leads and a tow rope
- Food and a warm drink should be taken on longer journeys.
Superintendent Jane Simmons of Northumbria Police's Operations Dept. said: "Although we are not seeing the same weather hazards as last week there are still potential dangerous conditions on our roads.
“The continuing low temperatures carry with them the risk of ice especially from melting snow "
"Drivers need to continue to exercise caution on the roads; motorists should not presume that just because there is no snow on the road there is no ice.
"Standing water caused by the thaw can also cause problems, especially as some gullies are blocked by snow preventing water from draining away.
For further road safety advice please visit the Northumbria Police website.
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