38 per cent of UK drivers don’t know what to do if their car goes into a skid, a new study by Sainsbury’s has revealed.
The study found that 38 per cent of people wouldn’t know what to do if their car skidded out of control and worryingly, more than a quarter (27 per cent) said they would take remedial action such as swerving, which actually makes the situation worse.
The findings are particularly distressing as we are coming into winter and black ice is becoming more common on the roads.
The supermarket bank estimates that around 264,000 accidents could be caused this year by icy roads, with their research showing that 1.3 million drivers had an accident in icy conditions in the past five years, with the average repair bill costing GBP1,773 to fix.
Icy conditions are clearly a major headache for drivers, with 22 per cent saying they only venture out in an emergency when it’s icy, and 7 per cent saying they won’t drive at all. The figure rises even higher for women, with more than a third (38 per cent) saying they will either not drive at all or only drive in an emergency when it’s icy, compared to 20 per cent of men.
Ben Tyte, Head of Sainsbury’s car insurance said, “Everyone knows that driving in wintery weather can be hazardous but our study shows that a staggering number of drivers do not know how to handle their vehicles in icy conditions. It’s important to drive even more safely and be extra vigilant and with another icy winter reportedly on its way we would encourage all drivers to make sure they know the correct way to handle their vehicle in slippery conditions.”
Sainsbury’s offers the following tips inscase you find yourself in a skid:
– Lift your foot gently off the accelerator. This will allow your car to slow smoothly and gently
– If you need to continue driving then do so slowly using a high gear. This will help you avoid hard acceleration, which could spin the wheels
– If there is no response when you turn the steering wheel and the car continues on ahead remove your foot from the accelerator. This throws the weight balance of the car forwards and helps the tyres find grip
– Take care on motorways and dual carriageways – don’t let other drivers influence your speed and don’t hug the car in front
– Take extra care around large vehicles which may not see you
– Give motorcyclists and cyclists plenty of room
– If you get stuck in ice or snow make sure your handbrake brake is on – clear the area around the wheels and apply grit or salt around the slipping wheel – use low revs to gently move away. Taking off in second gear can provide more traction.
