Transport for Buckinghamshire’s Road Safety team are helping drivers to stay safe this winter

Winter is approaching rapidly, which means now is the perfect time to make sure you and your vehicle are ready for winter.

Driving in the winter can be more hazardous than driving during the rest of the year, thanks to the darker days and adverse weather conditions. It’s important that drivers keep their vehicles in a safe and useable condition throughout the year, but especially in the winter months. Make sure you check your tyres, screen wash, wiper blades and that your lights are all working so you can see and be seen. If you can’t do this yourself, then get a local garage to give your vehicle a check over before winter.

It’s also essential that drivers know how to drive safely in poor weather. To help with this, Transport for Buckinghamshire’s road safety initiative, Travel Safe Bucks, is once again promoting their award-winning e-learning Winter Driving module, and encouraging drivers to take the course as a ‘refresher’.

The online module, takes about ten minutes to complete and is totally free to use, containing essential advice for all drivers, but especially for drivers facing their first winter driving. The module can be accessed by visiting: http://buckinghamshire.edrivingsolutions.com/ModuleList.aspx

While drivers should be taking extra care to stay safe on the roads this winter, they also need to look out for vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, pedestrians, cyclists or horse riders. As a vulnerable road user there are ways you can help to keep yourself safe too. Wear hi-vis or bright colours where possible, so that you can be easily seen as it gets dark. If you’re on a bike, make sure your lights work – and that you are using them! Remember: Be Bright Be Seen.

Cabinet Member for Transport, Steven Broadbent, said:

“The Winter Driving module is an excellent reminder about how to stay safe on the roads during the winter months and I would advise that everyone takes it. Even if you are an experienced driver, a little reminder can go a long way!

“We are all responsible for our own safety, but when drivers are out and about on the roads, we are also responsible for the safety of other, more vulnerable road users.

“And finally, if you’re a vulnerable road user, please take extra care to be bright, be seen. Together, we can help each other to stay safe this winter.”