With Met Éireann predicting further freezing conditions for the coming week, an Irish roadside assistance provider is providing important advice to drivers in Mayo to help them cope with the hazardous conditions.
Mondial Assistance, which provides roadside assistance services in Ireland to car manufacturers, insurance companies, and car rental firms, is expecting a surge in calls for assistance this winter, from stranded motorists.
Ten top tips
Keep an eye on local and national weather forecasts before heading out and avoid travelling, unless necessary.
Before you go, make sure you have a hands-free phone and charger, a torch, screen scraper, and shovel in the car.
Remember in bad weather stopping distances can increase significantly.
Always apply brakes gently. Release them and de-clutch if the car skids.
Try to maintain a constant speed, choosing the most suitable gear in advance to avoid having to change down while climbing a hill.
Indicate early before turning or changing lanes, to give other drivers plenty of warning and the chance to react in time.
Ensure tyres are in good condition for maximum traction on slippery roads.
Use major roads for journeys and beware of black ice.
If you do get stuck in deep snow, do not rev the engine as this will cause the wheels to dig deeper. Instead, put the car into a high gear and slowly move forwards and backwards to gently creep out of the snow.
Keep a note of your breakdown assistance emergency number.
