10 Tips For Driving in Snow and Ice- from Roscrea Race Driver Nicole Drought

1. If you know there is bad weather coming, check your tyre conditions and make sure the pressures are correct- most tyre centres will do this free of charge. Also ensure you have enough windscreen washer fluid and have an additive too to stop it freezing. 2. Unless you need to drive- don’t. This might sound simple, but too often these days we take our cars for granted and just jump in. 3. Leave more time than you usually would for your trip. Allow time for warming the car, de icing, windows clearing etc. Added to this you will be driving more slowly than normal, so leave in plenty of time. 4. Do not turn on your wipers on until your windscreen has defrosted. This can damage wiper blades, requiring them to be replaced immediately. 5. Use the pedals as if you are treading on eggshells- no hard application of power or brakes. 6. Use low revs and change up as early as possible. 7. Increase the distance between you and the car in front as much as possible- at least three times the gap and preferably more. 8. Try to anticipate hills by leaving a large gap when climbing and avoid charging gear while doing do. 9. When coming downhill, use a low gear to slow the car and avoid using the brakes unless you have to. 10. Brake before a corner- not during- you can only ask so much of your front tyres. If the car does begin to skid, steer into the skid. This means keep steering in the direction you want to you travel.

About Nicole Drought: Nicole Drought is Ireland’s top female race driver. She is a double Endurance Trial class champion, came second in class in the 2020 Britcar Championship driving a Porsche GT4, and has driven not one, but two Formula 1 cars.