Travelling in a car in adverse conditions can be dangerous if you are not well prepared. Water, ice and snow on the roads all increase stopping distances dramatically. Visibility is likely to be reduced because of shorter days, fog, mist and precipitation. If your car breaks down or you have an accident you need to be prepared to wait in the cold or to have the necessary equipment to sort it out. In order to minimise danger it is a good idea to take precautions before you travel. Every vehicle, even off road vehicles, will be affected by bad road conditions, so pay extra attention at all points of your journey.

Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter

• Get your car serviced so that it is in the best condition to deal with the adverse conditions.

• Check and, if necessary, replace the anti freeze in the radiator.

• Consider getting winter tyres put on your vehicles if you live in a remote or badly affected area. Always ensure that your tyres have at least 3mm of tread depth and that they are properly inflated according to the manufacturers instructions.

• Check that your windscreen wiper blades are working well, replace them if they are not, this will help to ensure that you have the maximum visibility at all times.

Driving in Winter Conditions

If conditions are bad it is best to not drive. Always check weather reports before making a long trip. Use route planners and local radio traffic updates to get the latest information on the roads that you wish to travel.

Flooding & Strong Winds

The risk of flooding in certain areas is high this year. The Met office have issued severe weather warnings for much of the country, it is never advisable to drive in flooded conditions but if you have to then you should follow these basic guidelines:

1. Avoid driving through surface water; your engine may flood, or you may aquaplane which could cause you to loose control of your vehicle.

2. The deepest water is likely to be nearest the curb, if possible drive near to the centre of the road.

3. If you have to drive through surface water, stay in first gear and continually move to avoid stalling.

4. Always test your breaks immediately after driving through water, if they work fine then you can increase your speed.

5. High winds will particularly affect highsided vehicles including caravans and motor homes, slow down and remember to be extra cautious when approaching open areas such as bridges.

Snow and Ice

1. Decrease speed

2. Stopping distances are increased so leave a large amount of distance between yourself and the car in front.  Take more time to slow down to navigate corners and bends in the road.

3. Do not break hard. Breaking gently will help to minimise skidding, if the wheels lock when braking, ease off the brake.

4. Have your lights on all of the time

5. Keep your windscreen, lights, windows and mirrors clean for maximum visability.

Winter Supplies for Your Vehicle

Prepare yourself for difficult conditions by having these essentials in your vehicle at all times and especially if you are taking a long journey.

• First Aid Kit

• Blankets and warm clothing

• Non perishable and high energy food eg nuts, dried fruit and sweets

• Water

• De-icer and ice scraper

• Maps of the area

• Torch and spare batteries

• Mobile phone

• Spare tyre, wheel wrench and jack

• Shovel, if snow is expected

• Towing ropes

• Tool Kit

• Jump leads

If you are well equipped you will find that you are able to deal with most situations easily and safely. The most important thing to remember is to be cautious and vigilant.  This is especially necessary if you are towing a caravan as it will be far more challenging to drive safely in difficult conditions, make sure that you plan your journey very well and take plenty of provisions.

Across Europe there are now a number of low emission zones (LEZ). These zones have been put in place to try to increase air quality in some of the most polluted areas. What this means is that certain vehicles must avoid entering these low emissions zones or that they must pay a fixed amount to enter the zones.

310,000 deaths across Europe every year are directly attributed to bad air quality. The cost to the European economy is estimated to be 427 to 790 billion euros every year. In order to meet targets a number of countries have created low emission zones in certain cities. London was the pioneer of this idea, schemes are also in place in Oxford and Norwich. Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and Italy all now have L.E.Z. in place. Unfortunately there is no unifying principle behind the zones; they are implemented differently in every country.

Generally in order to enter a LEZ your vehicle must fall below the required emissions targets or you must pay a toll, in certain places some vehicles are banned. The age of your vehicle and the type of engine it has contribute to your emissions rating. You can discover your emissions rating by looking at your vehicle registration papers, if your vehicle is registered in the U.K. or in the Netherlands you can find this information on line. In order to align your vehicle with the Euro Standards you can buy a newer vehicle, retrofit the engine including placing filters on the engine, or reorganise your travel plans to avoid these zones, there are also certain exemptions in place for example on very old vehicles, check with your destination for details.

All of the schemes penalise heavy goods vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes, many diesel vehicles are affected but the treatment of other vehicles varies quite considerably. You will need to find out prior to travel what the restrictions are at your destination. In most cities the restrictions will not apply to caravans being towed by a moderately weighted vehicle, but some motor homes are likely to be affected. There are a high number of low emission zones in Germany, their policy can affect any vehicle and you must have a window sticker before you enter an LEZ city to avoid being fined (currently 40 euros).

This scheme is not likely to go away any time soon, there is evidence that suggests that it is having a positive affect on air purity which means that it is likely to continue to expand to new countries and cities. Always check before travelling to see if you are going to be affected.

Recreational vehicles, also known as R.V.s come in lots of different shapes and sizes according to what they are meant to be used for, some are temporary living accommodation others are designed for long term occupation. They are commonly used for camping, travelling and other recreational journeys. The price tag differs as much as the vans do so before you leap into buying or renting a motorhome it is a good plan to have some idea of the different types that are available. Also do not forget that the larger and heavier a vehicle the more it will cost to use it as the petrol, insurance, storage and running costs will be proportionally higher each time.

Class A Recrational Vehicles

Class A recreational vehicles are top specification motorhomes. They are the largest, most well equipped and heaviest of all the motor homes available. An average length would be between 30-40 feet and they are likely to weigh between 15000 and 30000 pounds. Generally they are built up on a custom chassis, similar to the ones used for 3-10 tonne trucks. Often class A motorhomes will have additional space inside available at the touch of a button, allowing comfortable sleeping space for up to 8 people. These luxurious models have fold out sections which can be folded out when the vehicle is stationary. Expect all modern conveniences when you are looking for a motorhome of these specifications, but you must also expect a price tag to match, often the cost of these vehicles will exceed the cost of a small bricks and mortar house.

Class B Recreational Vehicles

Class B recreational vehicles are more commonly known as camper vans. Camper vans are the smallest totally enclosed van available. Typically they will sleep two to four people. Commonly they are constructed onto a van chassis with no extra modifications to length or width although they will have more height to them than a regular van. Campervans are known for being a practical size for general use and for being comparatively economical as holiday vehicles. Specifications will vary from model to model but generally they will be equipped with a kitchen, sink, toilet and electric.

Class C Recreational Vehicles

A class C recreational vehicle has a separated cab, they are a smaller version of a class A vehicle. Often there will be sleeping space built above the cab to maximise the use of space. They are more similar to class A motor homes than to class B vehicles. They may also have fold out sections which enable the user to create more space inside when parked, although it is worth noting that this feature is likely to add a fair amount onto the cost of the vehicle. They are likely to have a range of entertainment features in addition to the basic amenities provided by a class B vehicle.

Towable Recreational Vehicles

Trailer Tents

Very much as it is described, a trailer tent or a folding camper trailer is a tent that folds away into a trailer which can then be towed by another vehicle. They are easy to use and the cheapest of all the options available, although they normally come without any facilities apart from sleeping areas and a large living area. One advantage, over camping, is that the bed areas will be raised off the floor and will have mattresses ensuring a warmer and more comfortable nights sleep.

Truck Campers

A truck camper is a specially designed trailer that fits onto the back of a pickup truck. They tend to be popular for short trips as they are quite easy to use, they are also good for accessing more remote areas. Again they can be costly to purchase.

Travel Trailers, Caravans and Fifth Wheel R.V.’s

Travel trailers and fifth wheel recreational vehicles are large towable vehicles, in some cases identifable with caravans. They tend to be packed with entertainment facilities and modern conveniences. Fifth wheel trailers need to be moved with a pick up truck, whereas travel trailers can be moved by a regular towing vehicle. The size of the vehicle needed is dependant on the size of the trailer which can very considerably.