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Title: Transport Team share their winter ‘Snow How’ Author: DMBC  ID & Publication: 20121211024 ~ The-Villager.co.uk  Area: Doncaster  Subject: Transport

Doncaster Council is advising residents that as the temperatures plummet drivers should start preparing their cars to avoid unnecessary transport headaches and the team responsible for keeping the council’s fleet of around 750 vehicles running over winter have come up with a checklist drivers can use to get their car ready for winter.
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Cynthia Ransome, who is the Cabinet Member for Communities; Street Scene; Environmental Protection; Waste and Recycling, said: ‘The council works hard to keep the road network running during extreme winter weather but drivers need to take some simple steps to ensure that their cars are able to cope with the conditions too.
‘Taking some time to prepare your vehicle ahead of the winter weather hitting in full force, can save time and money in the long run, as well as helping you to get out of some tricky situations like being frozen out.’

Winter Car Care Preparation Checklist
•     Research shows that around 50 per cent of drivers are not using the right oil for their car. Cold weather often causes oil to thicken, so if you aren’t using the right oil, it makes it even harder for the engine to get going, risks engine damage and premature wear. Now may be the time for an oil change or at minimum a top up and that service you had been promising your car all year.

•     Check your antifreeze concentrate. Make sure the water in the coolant reservoir is a strong colour - usually blue or yellow.

•     Buy some windscreen washer fluid and check the reservoir. Don’t dilute with water but fill with concentrated solution, this will stop the water freezing as low as minus five degrees.

•     Don’t forget to check the tyre pressures and condition more regularly in the winter. This should be done at least once a week in normal conditions, but is especially important in severe weather when wet and icy road conditions can mean worn tyres won’t grip.

•     Have your battery checked, that sluggish turnover will turn to a non starter when temperatures drop, if in doubt and the battery is over 3 years old, be prepared to change it.

Top tips for when the big freeze hits
•     Put a blanket over your windscreen overnight, tucking it under the wipers. The screen shouldn’t then freeze and the wipers won’t get stuck to the glass.

•     Get up ten minutes earlier. Defrosting icy cars takes time. Putting both sun visors in the horizontal position helps direct the flow of warm air back to the windscreen which helps to speed up the defrosting.

•     If the door lock is frozen, warm your key or use lock de-icer. It may take more than one attempt to completely thaw it out. Better still spray some WD40 into the lock barrel the night before and it won’t freeze at all.

•     Door seals and handles can freeze over and jam. To melt the ice, pour warm water round the door and handle. Never use very hot or boiling water as this could crack the glass. Wipe off any excess, as it will freeze again.

•     When you’re starting a cold engine make sure the fan, heated rear window and any other electrical systems are turned off. Loading the battery during cold starts will reduce its power.


Even with a fleet of 14 gritters and snow ploughs working around the clock to help prevent frost or ice forming on over 350 miles of roads across the borough,
it is important that drivers do not assume that routes will be free from ice.

The council has lots of useful advice on a dedicated winter webpage including gritting operations, salting routes and salt bin locations www.doncaster.gov.uk/winter.

Residents can also keep up to date during extreme winter weather about council news and services, weather, travel and schools by following us on Twitter @mydoncaster or liking us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mydoncaster.

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