As winter sets in, driving conditions become more treacherous, with fewer daylight hours, icy roads, and unpredictable weather.

Ensuring your vehicle is roadworthy becomes essential for your safety and that of others on the road. The FLOWER vehicle check offers a simple yet comprehensive way to prepare your vehicle for these challenging conditions.

Keep reading to learn how the FLOWER Check and a well-prepared emergency kit can keep you safe on winter roads.

What is the FLOWER Check?

The FLOWER principle covers six key areas to help you assess your vehicle’s readiness before any journey:

• Fuel: Ensure your vehicle has enough fuel or charge to complete your journey. Identify fuel stations or charging points along your route, especially in rural or snow-prone areas.
• Lights: Check all lights—headlights, brake lights, reversing lights, indicators, and fog lights. Proper lighting is critical in winter’s low-visibility conditions.
• Oil: Cold weather can affect your engine oil’s performance, making regular checks even more important. Low oil levels can lead to engine damage, especially in winter.
• Water: Winter means frequent use of your windscreen wipers, so make sure your windscreen wash is topped up with a suitable winter mix and that your wiper blades leave your screen clear and streak-free. Check your coolant and brake fluids too, to prevent freezing and ensure optimal vehicle performance.
• Electrics: Batteries are more prone to failure in cold weather. Ensure your vehicle’s electrics, including the battery, are in good working order.
• Rubber: Tyre checks are crucial, as icy roads demand maximum grip. Check your tyre tread and sidewalls regularly for wear or damage to avoid dangerous blowouts or skidding. For maximum contact with the road, ensure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure for your load.

Emergency Kit: Essential for Winter Driving Safety

When driving in winter, you may encounter unexpected situations such as breakdowns, accidents, or adverse weather conditions that leave you stranded. In remote or unfamiliar locations, this can be particularly challenging, especially if emergency or breakdown services are delayed or unreachable. That’s why having a well-stocked emergency kit in your vehicle is not just a recommendation—it’s a necessity.

It’s crucial to regularly check your emergency kit every six months, ensuring nothing has expired or been used. Here are the essential items every driver should carry, along with some extra tips to enhance your preparedness for winter journeys:

• Flashlight or Head Torch: A reliable light source is vital during winter. Choose a crank or solar-powered torch to avoid battery worries, or opt for a hands-free head torch for better visibility when working on your vehicle.
• Warm Blanket and Waterproof Gloves: Keep warm with a compact thermal blanket and waterproof gloves to stay dry and comfortable while dealing with car issues.
• Water: Carry at least two litres of water per person—use it for hydration or topping up vehicle fluids if needed.
• High-Protein Snacks: Non-perishable energy bars can keep you sustained during long waits.
• First Aid Kit: Make sure your first aid kit is well-stocked and know how to use it, especially in remote areas.
• Jump Leads: Useful for restarting your battery or helping others. Learn how to use them safely.
• Basic Tool Kit or Multi-Tool: A small toolkit or multi-tool can assist with minor repairs.
• Reflective Triangle and High-Visibility Vest: Essential for alerting other drivers and keeping you visible in poor conditions.
• Sun Cream: Even in winter, sun glare off snow or ice can be intense.
• Battery Power Pack: Ensure your phone stays charged in case of emergencies with a portable power pack.
• Rain Jacket or Poncho: Keep dry in wet conditions with a waterproof jacket or poncho while waiting for help or working on your vehicle.

For winter, you should add a few more key items to your emergency kit:

• Ice Scraper/Snow Brush: Essential for clearing your windscreen and windows for visibility. Remember to remove all snow from your vehicle before moving off to avoid it sliding onto your windscreen (or that of another vehicle) once you are in motion.
• Compact Shovel: A foldable metal shovel is useful for digging out your tyres if you get stuck in snow.
• Hat, Gloves, and Socks: Keep spares in your kit to ensure you stay warm if the weather takes a turn.
• Bag of Sand or Cat Litter: This is a great way to add traction to your tyres if you’re stuck in snow or ice. Pour some around the tyres to help regain grip. Small sections of old carpet can also work well – just remember to take them with you once you’ve gained traction!

By preparing your emergency kit properly, ensuring it is accessible but well-secured, you’re not just ensuring your safety—you’re giving yourself peace of mind that no matter what winter throws your way, you’ll be ready to face it.

Cardinus can help you to prepare your vehicle for winter

Cardinus’ Healthy Working: Safe Driving software can help you to prepare your vehicle for winter. Healthy Working: Safe Driving  is our end to end fleet risk management software, which will help you to minimise the risk to your drivers and other road users. Get in touch to free trial Healthy Working: Safe Driving with up to 5% of your fleet.