For many new drivers the thought of driving in icy or snowy conditions strikes terror into the heart but fear not because with the right Beverly Slater driving instructor by your side you will learn how to cope with winter conditions. Here are some tips on how to drive safely in icy weather conditions.

Lesson 1 – Be Prepared

Every motoring organisation will say that you must always be prepared for every eventuality whilst driving. Wear warm, non-restrictive clothing and footwear. If using your own vehicle for driving lessons have a blanket, shovel and flask of warm drink handy in case you get stuck for any length of time. Keep a burlap sack or old rug handy in case you get stuck in the snow; you can put this under the wheel to give tyres extra grip. 

Before Setting Off

Make sure all mirrors and windows of your car are fully de-iced and cleared of snow. Ensure your windscreen washer jets are unblocked and all the exterior lights are working. Familiarise yourself with the heating and de-misting controls inside the car. Give yourself plenty of extra time to do this. Only set off when you have full clear vision through windows and mirrors. If you’re learning in an automatic car pay attention to any instructions concerning your vehicle’s recommended winter settings.

Driving on Snow or Ice

The key here is to do things more slowly and carefully; this means no hard accelerating or sudden braking as the car will fail to grip and may slide on ice. Pull away in second gear rather than first to avoid wheel spin and move off slowly.

Heavy braking, sudden gear changes or upward changes in speed may cause a loss of control so avoid these and remember that you’ll need to gently apply the brake much sooner than you normally would when approaching a junction or crossroads.

When driving downhill, leave more room than usual between you and the vehicle in front and use a low gear to utilise the car’s natural engine braking. If driving up a snowy incline allow the car in front of you some room to get out of the way; use a low gear and try to keep to a constant speed rather than accelerating to avoid having to stop part of the way up.

Driving in winter conditions is made much easier when you learn with an approved driving instructor because they are always prepared for whatever the weather throws at us and will be a calming and experienced presence to guide you through tricky conditions. Ensuring that you drive safely and happily.

The first step on your learning to drive journey begins with finding the right driving instructor but with so many different driving schools to choose from, including independent instructors as well as big name schools, it can be tricky.

Here at Beverly Slater, we know that when you start your driving lessons, we want you to be as comfortable and confident in your choice as possible so you can truly enjoy the experience of learning to drive. With this in mind, here are our tips to help you make the right choice for you.

1. Look for qualifications your driving instructor has

If you want to pass your test first time you must choose a fully qualified and certified professional instructor, preferably one who is ADI certified. This means they are an approved, fully qualified driving instructor. Ask them for their pass rates to give an idea on how many successes they have had particularly in relation to first time passes.

Be aware that only professional driving instructors are allowed to charge money for lessons.

2. Read reviews

Check out performance reviews on unbiased websites. If you can, ask around if there are people you know who have taken lessons with local instructors, because the most accurate and honest reviews are often through word of mouth.

3. Talk to instructors before committing to lessons

A reputable driving school will be only too happy to answer any questions or worries you may have. Here at Beverly Slater we want every pupil taking driving lessons in Didsbury to be completely happy and confident in their choice of instructor.

Good questions to ask include how long they have been teaching and what aspects of being a driving instructor they most enjoy. You could also ask about their teaching methods; for instance do they offer pre-lesson class based instruction as well as instruction during and after lessons.

By having a good, heart-to-heart chat with a potential instructor you’ll instantly know whether you’re going to get along with them. A good relationship between instructor and pupil plays an important part in how well you learn and how quickly you pass your test.

4. Finally, the nitty-gritty

You’ll also need to know how much lessons are going to cost. Consider how many lessons the instructor thinks that pupils typically need and if they are flexible in timings; for example if you need to take lessons erratically due to your job or studies. This will allow you to budget money and time accordingly.

Making the right choice as to who teaches you to drive is important. Getting the right instructor means you’ll be sure to enjoy your lessons; and that’s what driving is all about.

Learning to drive can be nerve-wracking but it should be fun and enjoyable in anticipation of getting your full driver’s license and setting out on your own in your first car. At Beverly Slater our instructors are committed to making sure that each of our students has a positive experience when taking driving lessons in Cheadle Hulme, one of the areas we cover. However, it can be helpful to look out for the signs where your instructor might not be the right fit.

Could any of the following apply to you on your driving lessons?

My instructor criticises me

Constructive criticism is one thing and if you are making mistakes which could be dangerous or which could lead to you failing a driving test then we will certainly show you where you’re going wrong and how to put it right. But we do this by using gentle, constructive methods which build your confidence and ensure you learn correctly.

What we would never do is shout at you. Any instructor worth their salt knows that shouting and criticising is never the most effective method for getting the best from a pupil. Our instructors know that patience is the key to good results.

Similarly, an instructor who tends to get stressed is probably not the best person to teach driving. An instructor should stay calm under pressure at all times.

Too much talking, not enough driving

You get behind the wheel of a car because you want to learn to drive but there are so many stories of instructors who spend far too much time on theory and not enough time on the road. If you feel that you’re not progressing as quickly as you would like and getting no nearer to your goal of actually being able drive competently, it may be time to switch instructors.

Lack of interest and enthusiasm from an instructor

Most driving instructors do the job because they love driving and they love to teach. A driving instructor who can’t seem to tear their eyes away from their mobile phone or who spends most of the time staring out of the window instead of supervising their pupil is an instructor who is not only useless but dangerous as well. Your instructor should also be happy to repeat certain driving manoeuvres which you may lack confidence in as many times as you need to get it right.

Not showing up or cutting lessons short

In many cases, students book a block of driving lessons in advance. If your instructor has taken your money but keeps cancelling lessons or not showing up, this is completely unacceptable. So is cutting lessons short. You have paid for their time, and they should be mindful of ensuring you get your money’s worth.  If you believe your instructor is treating you badly in this regard, you can report them by visiting the government’s website.

No feedback

Right from the start your driving instructor should make clear what you can expect including proper feedback after lessons and regular progress reports. And when you’re confident that you’re getting value for money you know you’re with the right instructor.

We have taught many people to drive this year, and for them, like many others, they are heading into their first winter driving for themselves.  However, winter driving, especially in the UK, can mean being faced with many road conditions and extra hazards to be cautious of that we haven’t come across before.

With this in mind, here are some useful tips to follow to ensure we keep safe and are fully prepared for whatever the weather and driving conditions may throw at us!

Roadworthy Vehicles

We should always make sure our cars are roadworthy, but winter especially calls for our cars to be in tiptop condition.  If your tyres are near the legal limit consider changing them for new ones, in wet and icy conditions it is important for your tyres to have sufficient grip to hold the road, check even more often that they are inflated correctly, small changes in tyre pressure will affect the handling of your car.

It is a good time to get a winter check, and some garages offer these for free, it is always good to know how to check your car for yourself though.  Fewer daylight hours will find many of us driving more often in the dark so it is especially important to ensure lights and indicators are working and check them regularly, carry spare bulbs and know how to change them or where to go for help.  Keep lights and number plates clean and top up your screen washer bottles regularly.  Also, make sure to check antifreeze levels to protect your car’s engine during the coldest times of the year.

Driving

If you’re driving in rain, ice and snow, always avoid sudden changes in speed, heavy braking and using cruise control. With braking distances being as much as 10 times further than normal, gentle manoeuvring and early reactions can avoid dangerous situations.  If you’re out early in the morning, make time to defrost your car properly and don’t be tempted to set off before you can see clearly through all of the windows and your windscreen. It’s always best to, leave extra time for any journeys you have to make so you’re not tempted to drive faster than the road conditions allow.

Be prepared

We never know when we may be stuck in our cars longer than expected. If there is an accident that holds traffic up, we could find ourselves out for longer than planned, so it makes sense to take some precautions.  Ensure you have warm clothing and keep at least a third of a tank of petrol in our vehicles just in case you get stuck in colder weather, and when driving on longer journeys or in rural areas, some food and a hot drink in a flask would be good things to pack. 

If you’re concerned about driving safely in winter and would like to benefit from additional driving tuition, Beverly Slater, are here to help. We’d be glad to give you an extra lesson or so in order for you to feel safe driving this winter!