Hi All.

I just wanted to write a quick post with regards to the Winter.
Autumn/Winter can be a bit of a challenge for new drivers and can even catch out a few experienced ones.
I have compiled a few top tips to keep yourself away from Hazards and NOT ceate any for any other drivers.

As we know already, Cork roads are not the best. They are plagued with poor surface and idiot drivers.
The first defence is to make sure the basic car checks are done.

1. Check ALL lights, brake lights and indicators – Get someone to help you or use your local TOPAZ. They have a Mirror beside the Tyre inflator to help you check your lights without getting out of the seat. This will allow other drivers to see you and help them make better driving decisions based on your signals. People have lost their lives because other drivers lights were broken.
2. Check Tyre Condition and Tyre pressures – Check that the grooves in the tyre are deep enough. The minimum legal Tread depth is 1.6mm. On all tyres there are little tyre wear indicator stubbs in the groove to tell you when theyre illegal. If theres no deep groove then the tyre will not displace any water etc and thus NO GRIP. Also check your tyre pressure. Under inflated tyres are like driving on Raw Eggs. Over inflated tyres reduce your grip. If in Doubt, I always inflate to 30 psi. The tyre inflators in most petrol stations are free and most garages will assist you. Its not difficult but essential. People have died from driving on under inflated tyres.
3. Check your Coolant – Open the Bonnet and look for the resevoir that has a thermometer on it or CAUTION HOT text on the cap. This is your coolant. This keeps your engine cool. The fluid should be RED or GREENISH colour. This is the ANTIFREEZE additive that stops it from freezing. If its clear or transparant, bring it to a mechanic for a mini service. NO ANTIFREEZE = FROZEN ENGINE and LEAKS. Drivers have broken their cars from not checking antifreeze levels. Remember water expands when it freezes !
4. Top up your Screenwash – Open the Bonnet and look for the resevoir with the windscreen and dashed lines squirting over it. This is the fluid that squirts onto your window when you pull the window wiper stick attached to your steering wheel. For €2 you can get screen wash liguid soap from the petrol station then top it up with ordinary tap water. This is essential if we get frost. Why? Because if we get frost, they send out the grit lorries to grit the roads to prevent them freezing. Grit is basically salt. The vehicle in front of you will spray salt up on your window from its tyres and your windows will go white. It becomes very difficult to see. People have lost their lives from not topping up their screenwash.

This is all basic stuff, but if your not comfortable doing it yourself, then find your nearest ADVANCE PITSTOP in Cork or Local Mechanic and ask them to do a Winter Check.

Secondly – Keep your driving smooth and creamy. What I mean by this (and most of my students will already know this) is to keep the car steady and safe. Dont be erratic with the steering or the pedals. You will only discover loss of grip when its too late and YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM A SKID without prior training.

Brake earlier and softer on the pedal. This warns drivers behind you sooner and prevents your wheels LOCKING UP.

And Thirdly, Do I need to say it? Really?

SLOW DOWN AND KEEP YOUR DISTANCE TO THE VEHICLES AROUND YOU.

Theres too many idiots on the road.

MY GOLDEN RULES

1. Keep your self out of danger
2. Dont create any danger for anyone else (requires forward thinking)

Hope this helps at least one of you stay safe this winter.

Safe Driving

Tony

Cork City Council have added an update to their traffic division webpage.
Those of you who pick up children from school will be glad to hear that The City Council have agreed to place lower speed limits near some schools. Sounds great eh?
My opinion….
Initially I think its a great idea but unless the Garda actually enforce it, are any or many drivers going to take any notice. They dont anywhere else.
Part of the Job of being a driver instructor is ensuring we and the students we are teaching are abiding by the speed limits. So why am I still being overtaken in built up areas when Im driving at 50kph?
So unless the Council are going to erect speed camera threat signs in conjuction with the lower speed limits, I think its going to be a challenge to slow down traffic.

Here is the snippet from the Cork City Council Website identifying the locations of a new 30kph speed limit outside some Schools in Cork.

New lower speed limit of 30 kph

The Cork City Road Traffic (Special Speed Limits at Specified Schools) Bye Laws 2011 introduce a new lower speed limit of 30 kph on the approaches to the following schools:
Sunday’s Well Boys Primary School , Blarney Road.
Scoil Barra Naofa Boys and Girls Primary Schools, Beaumont.
St Brendan’s and St Mark’s Primary Schools, The Glen.
North Monastery Secondary School.
Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown.
Nagle Community College, Mahon.

The Bye-laws will come into effect on Wednesday 22nd February. Motorists are asked to observe the lower speed limits in these areas.

Please see for relevant Cork City Bye-laws –

Cork City Speed Bye-laws 2011

Cork City Road Traffic Special Speed Limit at Specific Schools Bye-laws 2011

http://www.corkcity.ie/services/roadstransportation/trafficdivision

Safe Driving

Tony