I write this having just heard that all train services have been temporarily closed in Scotland because of the exceptionally high winds and that an HGV driver has already been killed as a result of his lorry being blown onto two cars. No doubt other parts of the world are experiencing similar harsh conditions with snow and ice to contend with too, so if you’ve had to take to the roads because the trains aren’t running, or if you have to drive as part of your job, do stay safe.

Now as far as I’m aware, this tip has absolutely nothing to do with the specific accident mentioned above, but I’ve also received a press release today which warns that we shouldn’t deflate our tyres slightly for Winter – as we’ve been told for many years to do.

Steve Clarke, of The Fuelcard People, says: “There is a long-held view that reducing tyre pressures will increase grip on awkward surfaces.  This might be all right for driving over desert sand, but it is certainly not safe for winter driving. It simply is not true, unless temperatures fall far below anything we might expect in Britain.”

Steve says compression just means that the tyre is sitting on a larger layer of melted ice or snow, increasing the likelihood of sliding, skidding and aquaplaning.

Sounds logical, doesn’t it?

With Winter really starting to set in now, Steve has some other tips for drivers, which are included in this week’s news, below…

www.facebook.com/KBzine 

Yours,

Jan Hobbs