Learn how to be prepared for driving in snow

Driving in snow and icy conditions can present motorists with several challenges. Freezing temperatures can mean that you might struggle to get your car started in the first place, while low visibility and slippery road surfaces can make driving a struggle.

That’s why it’s key to take good care of your vehicle and adjust your driving style to the conditions.

How to drive in snow

In short, our key tips for driving in snow are:

• Accelerate gently when moving off in snow, avoiding harsh speeds that could cause wheelspin
• Start off in second gear using low revs, and ease your foot off the clutch gently
• Instead of using the brake pedal, cycle down the gears to use engine braking (you can tap the brake pedal lightly to make drivers behind aware that you’re slowing down)
• Leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the one in front
• Stay in a higher gear and avoid braking as much as you can
• Use your headlights in heavy snow
• If you do start skidding, stay calm, steer into the skid and avoid sudden movements like hitting the brakes
• If your driving an electric or hybrid car, adjust the regenerative braking to a lower setting

Deciding whether to drive in snow

Driving during bad weather should start with the basic question: do I need to leave the house? If you can avoid driving when conditions outside are unpredictable and potentially dangerous, you should. And if you can plan around forecast weather warnings, you might be able to avoid the worst of it.

But if you have to be on the roads when the snow’s falling and the temperature’s dropping, here are some things you can do to stay as safe as possible.

Before you start driving in the snow

Plan your journey – by preparing your route beforehand,  sticking to main roads (which are more likely to be gritted and cleared) and keeping an eye on any traffic updates, you stand a better chance of avoiding an incident or serious delay.

Get your car in shape for the snow – much like we bundle ourselves up and make sure we’re physically ready for the weather, your car needs some hands-on preparation too.

De-ice and de-mist your windscreen

It’s illegal to drive without full vision, so you’ll want to make sure to properly defrost your car windscreen before setting off. In short, you’ll need to:

• Make sure your wipers are switched off and aren’t frozen to the glass before you start your car
• Start your engine and turn on your windscreen and rear window heaters, if you have them, along with the air-con, and stay with your car while it clears up
• Clean off any excess snow from your car and front grille with a soft brush
• Wait for all of the glass to completely clear before driving
• If you own an electric or plug-in hybrid, pre-heating may be available while on charge

Make sure your lights are working

Ensure all your lights are working and visible. Clean off any snow and dirt before any journey. This will allow you to see clearly but also to be seen by other road users.

Check your fuel or EV charge

This one might seem simple, but if you run out of fuel or EV charge in the winter, then you won’t be able to keep warm in your car in the event that you get stuck or have a breakdown. Believe it or not, a large number of breakdowns attended by AA patrols are for empty fuel tanks.

Expert tips for driving in snow

• Make sure to wear warm clothing, with appropriate footwear (make sure your footwear is dry so that you don’t slip off any of the pedals – you can keep a small towel in your car for this)
• Bring a pair of sunglasses (heavy snow can cause glare from the sun, reducing your visibility)
• Set off earlier than you would if you’re making the journey to work or travelling a route you always travel. This will allow you to have the extra time to drive calmly and sensibly
• Be gentle on the throttle, avoiding any harsh acceleration which is likely to cause wheel spin
• In manual-geared cars, pull away in second gear, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel spin
• To slow down, use engine braking through the gears – just touch the brake pedal lightly to show brake lights to others behind
• If you’re driving an electric or hybrid car, adjust the regenerative braking to a lower setting
• Leave as much room as you can between your vehicle and the one in front of you
• If you’re approaching a hill, drop well back or wait until it’s clear of traffic so you won’t have to stop part-way up. Keep a constant speed and try to avoid changing gear on the hill
• Take bends in the road slowly, making sure to brake before you start turning the steering wheel
• If you do start to lose control or skid, it’s important to remain calm. Make sure to steer gently into any skid and don’t make any sudden movements like braking harshly
• Use a higher gear and try to avoid braking throughout your journey. Shift down through the gears to slow down
• If you drive an automatic car, check your manual to see if your car has a setting for icy conditions
• Use your headlights in heavy snow. Daytime running lights won’t be enough, and there’ll be no lighting at the back of your car. You’ll need to make sure you can see ahead and cars behind you know you’re there
• If you’re driving in heavy snow, be aware that the parts of the road with tyre tracks from other drivers are likely to be more icy than anywhere else
• Think about your current driving environment. Just because the conditions might have improved on main roads, country roads or bridges might still be hazardous due to less traffic or because they’ve not been gritted
• When you’re driving in icy conditions or snow, you should always be more cautious for at least a few days after

What’s the stopping distance in snow?

In bad weather conditions, remember that a car’s stopping distance will be considerably longer. Also, if snow is falling heavily it will reduce how far ahead you can see, so you should drive much more slowly and give yourself longer to react. Secondly, braking distances can be doubled in wet conditions – and increased by at least 10 times on snow or ice.

The stopping distance at 30mph in normal conditions is 23 metres, which equates to 75 feet. In snowy conditions, your stopping distance at 30mph could be as high as 230 metres or 750 feet.

How to drive on ice

The advice for driving on ice doesn’t differ too much from driving in snowy conditions. If possible, avoid driving, but if you must drive, make sure to prepare well before you set off – check your fuel and make sure your mobile phone is fully charged (in case you get stuck).

When driving, accelerate gently, get into a higher gear as soon as possible, and reduce your speed in general. Keep an eye on the vehicle in front of you as this can give a clue to where patches of black ice are (you may see the vehicle in front skidding slightly).

Driving on black ice

Black ice is a thin layer of ice on the road surface that’s usually transparent. Because it’s very difficult for drivers to see, it can be one of the biggest dangers of winter driving. It’s important you know how to react if you hit a patch of black ice on the road. Black ice is caused by rain falling on frozen surfaces. It tends to form on parts of the road that don’t get much sun – tree-lined routes and tunnels – as well as on bridges, overpasses and the road beneath overpasses.

When it’s cold and there’s a risk of ice:

• If it’s slippery, do everything slowly as things can go wrong very quickly.
• Avoid harsh braking and acceleration or aggressive steering; reduce your speed smoothly and use brakes gently.
• If you do hit black ice, keep calm and avoid sudden or aggressive manoeuvres – don’t hit the brakes but lift of the accelerator fully and try to keep the steering straight, allowing the car to pass over the ice.

Do you need winter tyres?

Most drivers will get some safety benefit from fitting winter tyres because of the improved grip they provide in cold and wet conditions – they’re not just for snow and ice. But they’re an expensive option and not without hassle as you’ll have to store a set of tyres and swap them over twice a year.

As an alternative to winter tyres, consider ‘all-season tyres’ which can be left on all year round.

Or if you live in a rural area where snow’s common but roads rarely gritted, then a set of snow chains to get you to the nearest main road might be the answer.

Do you need snow socks or snow chains?

Snow socks (tyre socks) and snow chains are generally used less in the UK compared to other countries in Europe. If you live in a somewhat busy area, the likelihood is that you won’t need snow socks or snow chains because our roads are often gritted in the winter. However, if you live in a more rural area where there’s less chance of gritting, then you might want to consider purchasing some to keep in your car, just in case.

If you’re planning to travel to countries like Austria, Germany, France and Switzerland, it’s actually mandatory to have snow chains or snow socks in certain areas, so make sure to do your research before setting off.

Is it illegal to drive with snow on your car?

It’s not illegal to drive with snow on your car, but the law does stipulate that all the windows on your car need to be clear so that you can see through all of them. It would make sense to always clear your roof and windows of snow at the very least. Snow on the top of your car could slide and shift when you brake and accelerate, for example, and fall onto your windscreen, obstructing your view of the road.

If you get into an accident with snow on your windows, this could be viewed as dangerous driving.

How to drive uphill in snow

If you’re approaching a hill, make sure to drop well back or wait until it’s clear of traffic so you won’t have to slow down or stop while at an incline. Keep a constant speed and try to avoid changing gear on the hill. If you can get to the top of the hill smoothly then you’ll reduce your chances of stalling or getting into trouble half way up.

How to drive downhill in snow

When driving downhill in snow, don’t use the neutral gear if you’re in a manual car. Instead, use a low gear and only use the brakes gently if you need to. Ideally, use engine braking by going down through the gears with very light taps of the brake to show any road users behind you that you’re slowing down.

As with driving uphill in snow, try to hang back and let traffic clear (if there’s nobody behind you) so that you can traverse the hill without stopping and starting in traffic.

How to drive rear-wheel drive in snow

Again, our advice would for driving a rear-wheel vehicle in the snow would be to leave plenty of time for your journey, so that you can drive a bit slower. If you find that your rear wheels aren’t getting much traction, you can also try weighting down the rear of your vehicle with sandbags or bags of dirt. Place these in the boot for the best effect.

Alternatively, you can also invest in snow chains or snow socks for your tyres, if the rear-wheel drive is making things particularly challenging.

How to drive front-wheel drive in snow

For front-wheel drive cars, you should avoid accelerating into turns, as this will cause under steer and a loss of control. Instead, ease off the acceleration and approach turns at a lower speed than usual. Snow tyres and snow socks can help if you’re losing control often in a front-wheel drive car.

Generally, you should anticipate any movements you’ll need to make ahead of time so that you can be fluid and smooth, rather than hurried. Jerky movements are your enemy when driving a front-wheel-drive car in the snow.

How many inches of snow is unsafe to drive in?

Driving in light snow is significantly more dangerous than driving in clear conditions. So, if you have a large amount of snow and your journey isn’t essential, it’s best to avoid driving if possible. Generally, a car with large snow tyres (with either snow chains or snow socks equipped) would be able to handle 4-6 inches of snow relatively well. More than this, and you’ll be taking a significant risk.

How to drive an automatic car in snow

Our advice for driving an automatic car in the snow is the same as for a manual vehicle. Plan ahead, drive slowly, and anticipate your moves so that you won’t have to make any sudden decisions while driving.

If you have a newer model of automatic car, do check if you have a ‘snow mode’ or ‘winter driving mode’ – these will ensure that your car sets off in second gear, avoiding wheel spin. Power delivery to the wheels will also be reduced, giving you more control. You won’t be able to use engine braking in an automatic car, so it’s vital to reduce speed and only brake gently.

If you are worried about your skin health while travelling, these skincare tips will save you from all the hassle.

Travelling is always fun, and exciting, and comes with lots of adventures, but the scorching heat can take a toll on your skin. The new place, environment, altered dietary routines, and stress of travel can all have a negative effect on the skin. It puts you at risk for fatigue, ignorance, poor diet, a demanding schedule, and changing weather. Dr Anupama Bisaria, MBBS, MD, Dermatology who listed skincare measures to follow when travelling.

Skincare Tips To Follow While Travelling

1. Protect Your Skin From Sun

Protecting your skin from the harmful radiation of the sun is one of the most important things. To protect your skin from dangerous Ultraviolet (UV) rays, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF (at least 50) and PA rating +++. You should remember to reapply it every three hours but after 45 minutes post swimming or sweating profusely.

2. Carry Hats And Scarves With You

Did you know that your hair is the fastest to burn in the sun, especially if you have thin hair? Therefore, you should wear a hat to shield your head from the sun. This not only helps to prevent heatstroke but also prevents sunburn and whitening of your hair. Dr Bisaria advised carrying scarves made of thick cotton material as it provides a physical barrier in addition to your sunscreen.

3. Don’t Skip Your Regular Skincare

Dr Bisaria said that you should be consistent in following a skincare routine and should not give it a break even when travelling. However, you may skip Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHAs) or Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHAs), and retinol as exfoliation should be reserved for post-vacation tan. Also, avoid chemical peels and scrub before vacation to retain the dead layer of the skin which is preventive against UV damage. If the weight of your luggage worries you, carry travel-sized bottles to fit in more space.

4. Stay Hydrated

Dehydrated skin can lead to dryness and ripping off your skin’s moisture. So if you want your travel photos to be good, stay hydrated to achieve a glowing skin. You can even consider carrying a facial mist or a small spray bottle filled with water to refresh your skin when needed.

5. Cover Your Dark Under Eyes With Some Ice

Under eye circles are extremely common when travelling. So if you are bothered about those dark circles, try applying an ice pack. This will help soothe your eyes and reduce stress and effort.

6. Avoid Touching Your Face

You should strictly avoid touching your face when travelling. This will help reduce breakouts and other skin infections. This is due to the possibility of picking up unknown bacteria that can cause a variety of skin problems. Wash your hands often with an antibacterial hand wash or sanitiser.

7. Prioritise Rest and Sleep

While staying late and enjoying the chit-chats may be tempting, depriving your body of rest during travel can affect your skin. Try sleeping on time and creating a sleep-friendly environment. Sufficient rest will not only rejuvenate your body but also promote skin cell regeneration and maintain the vitality of your hair.

8. Focus On Your Diet

While travelling, eating a well-balanced diet will substantially help in maintaining skin health. This may sound difficult as who does not love eating junk food when travelling? However, include antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, such as berries, leafy greens, and citrus fruits, in your diet to battle free radicals created by sun exposure. On the other hand, excessive consumption of sugary and processed foods can contribute to breakouts and dull-looking skin.

Learn expert suggestions and beneficial tips regarding train travel while pregnant.

Though traveling should be avoided while pregnant, there may be situations and circumstances when you are required to travel. Train travel during pregnancy, in particular, may have an impact on you and your unborn child. Everything you do throughout your pregnancy directly influences your baby in your womb, be it the food you consume, your positive approach, or the way you move and sleep. Although train travel within cities and states throughout the world is one of the most popular and safest modes of transportation, traveling by train might be challenging for pregnant women. So, continue reading to learn about some basic precautions you can take to make train journeys safer for you and your child.

Expert Opinion

• Women with a history of miscarriage should not attempt any kind of travelling until they are well into their 5th month.
• Women with a history of premature delivery should avoid travelling during pregnancy by train in their last couple of months of pregnancy to be safe.
• On the other hand, if you are gliding well through your pregnancy and having no complications or troubles whatsoever, there’s no harm travelling, provided you take the necessary precautions.
• If you’re concerned, you could always consult your obstetrician and know about the risk factors you may be prone to and then arrive at a decision.

Make Safe Train Travel During Pregnancy

Is it safe to travel by train during pregnancy? Okay, so you’re in a situation where there’s absolutely no way out and you have to travel by train- don’t worry, here we’ve listed down some amazing tips that will help you glide through the journey easily and without any risks to your little baby.

1. Pack Early:

Pack all the stuff that you need, from extra clothes, towels, to your medications and other essentials. It is best to have everything close to you while you travel.

2. Be Prepared:

Make sure you carry anti-nausea stuff with you. This may differ from woman to woman and if you have a special inclination towards that pack of mints or that beauty soap, carry it in your handbag to curb any nausea or morning sickness that you may feel during the travel.

3. Doesn’t Lift Heavy Stuff:

Carrying heavy load is the last thing you would want during pregnancy. Hire a porter or ask your hubby dear to help you get your luggage on board.

4. Be Early:

Rushing things at the last minute could be stressful and you may hurt yourself in all the hurry. It’s best to be there at the station around 10 minutes early and get yourself to settle down on your seat.

5. Carry Pillows:

Obviously, train seats won’t be as comfortable as your bed back at home, but carrying a few supportive pillows may help you get that much needed rest while travelling.

6. Carry Your Own Food:

No matter how clean the food may seem packaged food and train food may not exactly be your choice during this crucial stage. Pack some homemade snacks and fresh fruits to munch on during the journey.

7. Remember Your Medications:

Carry all your medications with you in your handbag. It is also a good idea to carry your own filtered drinking water.

8. Get gadget-ready:

Make sure your cell phone is fully charged before you leave home. If you must, carry an extra battery along in case your battery gets low during the journey.

9. Practice Sensible Travel:

Don’t try to board a moving train. Avoid getting down at the halts unless you’re absolutely sure the halt is going to be more than 10-15 minutes for you to get back into the train safely.

Ensure your big-day outfits arrive safely.

Planning a destination wedding is both exciting and challenging; while the idea of getting married in a far-flung locale is undeniably appealing, managing all the logistical challenges a distant celebration poses can be tricky. For example, even if the wedding is all-inclusive once you arrive, getting there in one piece, with all your belongings (and without forgetting anything at home!), can feel overwhelming. When packing for your own destination wedding then, you’ll want to make sure you have a plan for how to travel with your wedding dress, suit, or tuxedo. If you’re a guest, it’s also wise to think ahead when it comes to traveling with your formal attire—otherwise, you may just be stuck wearing sweats to the ceremony and reception.

According to wedding planner Alexa Blanco, “As fun as it is to have a destination wedding, traveling from one place to another with your wedding dress might ruin some of the fun if you don’t plan ahead. Planning ahead is the key to having a seamless experience, even before officially starting the wedding weekend.” Bridal fashion stylist Hope LaVine echos that point, and also adds that your best bet is to always pack what you plan to wear to the ceremony in a carry-on bag (and this rule applies to more than just the dress or suit). “If you’re flying, bring anything important to the event in the carry-on: your shapewear, shoes, undergarments, jewelry, and hair accessories,” she says. “Anything vital to the day besides the suit or dress, pack that in a carry-on bag as well.”

Read on for more of Blanco and LaVine’s best tips and tricks for traveling with a wedding dress and other formal attire for a destination wedding.

What to Know Before Traveling With a Wedding Dress or Suit

When you purchase your dress or suit, the retailer you shopped with should provide a garment bag that can safely house your attire. What’s more, your big-day look will most likely be packed up and ready for travel following your final fitting, so it’s best to leave it packed in the bag until you arrive at your destination.

If you didn’t purchase your attire from a retailer that regularly works with wedding attire, or if your dress or suit didn’t come with a garment bag, you can easily purchase one online. “[For a wedding dress,] you’ll want to make sure the hanger straps are on the clothing hanger, loop them around as many times needed till they take the weight off the straps of the garment if there are straps,” says LaVine. “Then, if you have a train, grab the loop that is underneath the train and put it onto the hook of the hanger. This will more evenly distribute the weight of your garment and make for easier folding.”

Knowing to leave your wedding dress, suit, or tuxedo in the garment bag is just half the battle, though; it’s also essential that you also pack it properly. “When folding it into a carry-on, you can start by placing the middle of the garment inside, then take the top and fold it over, and take the bottom and fold it over,” explains LaVine. “This will create a three-fold.”

How to Travel With a Wedding Dress or Suit by Plane

Flying to your destination wedding location? Traveling with your big-day attire as a carry-on item is the single best way to ensure everything arrives safely. “Never, ever, ever check your wedding dress for a flight,” warns LaVine. “You just never know what could happen to the checked bag. And that’s not the stress we are trying to have on the wedding week!”

That said, you have a few different options for getting your attire on the plane: The most obvious choice is to carefully fold your wedding dress, suit, or tuxedo into a small piece of carry-on luggage and store it in the overhead bins. However, if your clothing is bulkier or more delicate, putting the garment bag into a suitcase might not be an option. In this case, LaVine says you might choose to simply hold the garment bag (one that is waterproof and opaque, not see-through) for the duration of the journey. “Depending on the size or weight, this may be uncomfortable for long periods of travel, but it’s definitely doable,” she adds. If you’re lucky, the in-flight crew might even help you secure your attire for the trip. “Sometimes you’ll get an extra sweet flight attendant that lets you hang the dress in the closet at the front of the plane,” says LaVine. “Don’t count on this, but definitely ask. If they can’t accommodate that, then the overhead bin will do just fine!” You can also consider purchasing an extra seat for your ensembles, though Blanco explains that different airlines have different rules, so check in with your airline to inquire about their “guidelines in regards to this matter” before booking a second ticket, she shares.

Need more advice? Here are Blanco’s top three tips to always remember when flying with your wedding attire. “Tip number one: Arrive early. Trust me, running around an airport carrying a suit and dress is no joke (true story). Tip number two: Travel light—the less the better. The wedding dress alone is heavy, so I highly recommend you make sure the rest of your luggage is easy to walk around with. Tip number three (and my favorite): If it’s within your budget possibilities, pay the early boarding fee. This will allow you to get ahead on the overhead bin space and make it easier to store your suit or gown.”

How to Travel With a Wedding Dress or Suit by Car

If you’re driving to your wedding and plan to be in a car for long stretches of time, it’s best to lay your attire flat, utilizing either a trunk or a backseat. “The backseat is preferred because you’ll have A/C,” says LaVine. “You don’t want to leave your [attire] in a hot car for a long period of time as wedding dresses, especially those with beading, tend to yellow with heat. The cooler, or darker the place, the better.”

While shipping your attire might seem like a good idea, LaVine strongly cautions against it. There’s nothing more stressful than trying to track these important, expensive garments and realizing they might not arrive on time. What’s more, you’ll always handle your wedding attire with more care and consideration than an outsider would.

How to Travel With a Wedding Guest Dress or Suit

You may not be the bride and groom, but bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, and wedding guests all drop a pretty penny on wedding-day attire, and you don’t want your looks to get lost in transit, either. Just like the couple of the hour, it’s always best to travel with your outfits in your carry-on suitcase. “I would hate to see a bridesmaid not being able to stand next to her best friend getting married because her dress was in her lost checked back,” says LaVine. “I always say get ahead of the problem: Don’t check the bag.”

Once you arrive at your hotel, take your outfits out of their garment bags, which will help wrinkles that were created in transit fall; for any stubborn bends, LaVine recommends steaming the garment ahead of the celebration. “Try to avoid steaming on the wedding day because you want the garment to have time to dry before you get into it and create more wrinkles,” she explains.

If you left your steamer at home, don’t sweat it: Hang your outfit in the bathroom next to the shower and turn the hot water on all the way. Close the bathroom door and let your clothes steam in the room for as long as it takes to get the wrinkles all the way you. It may not work for super stubborn wrinkles, but it’ll definitely make your formalwear look more presentable.