When you drive your car on any journey, it's pretty obvious that you have to be able to see properly to drive properly.
That's why cars have windows, right?
Windows aren't much use if you can't see through them and the weather can cause you problems with clear vision. However, before the weather can do it's worse, you must make sure that your windows and mirrors are always clean.
Have a regular routine of checking and cleaning and always give them a "once over" after you have driven in a situation where your windows will be dirty. Following lorries for example can leave your car covered in muck.
Wipers and washers.
Make sure your wiper blades are efficient and if they are smearing or missing, get them changed. It's quite easy to do the job yourself, or you can ask your mechanic, or shops such as Halfords will do it after you have purchased the wipers, for a very small cost. This way the fitter will make sure you have the correct blades as well, which is important.
Make sure the washers are working properly and keep the reservoir topped up with the correct liquid, which can be bought at any petrol station. It helps:
- In winter to prevent freezing. Water alone will freeze if it's cold enough, making the washers useless.
- In summer to clear insect remains and smears from the windscreen.
If your car requires an MOT certificate, faulty wipers and washers will result in a fail.
If you are learning to drive, you will learn about wipers and washers and how to use them and may be tested on them in the "show me/tell me" questions.
Misting up.
Misting up of the windows and mirror inside the car generally occurs when the weather is cool and can seriously affect your vision. It can occur even on a summers day after a rain shower.
If you are carrying passengers, with everybody breathing and talking, misting up can be sudden and severe.
- Have a dry cloth to hand in the car and use it to clean all inside glass.
- Drying the windows before you set off will help.
- Use your demisters. Make sure you know how to operate them. Again this is now part of the driving test. The driving instructors at John Lowe Driving will ensure that you fully understand washers, wipers and demisters, as part of your driving lessons. Many of the more modern cars have a heated windscreen, as well as a heated rear window, so use them early.
- Opening your windows will assist in clearing mist.
Make yourself familiar with the vehicles' handbook and follow the advice regarding heating, ventilation and demisting, appropriate to your particular car.
There are plenty of accessories available, such as glass cleaning liquids, de-icers and ready prepared cloths, but warm dry air works best when the engine has warmed up.
Icy weather.
If the weather is icy, your windows and screen can be frozen over. Don't attempt to drive until they have been cleared.
Allow yourself extra time to sort this out, waiting until your demister and heater are working effectively.
Avoid damaging your wiper blades by switching them on when they are frozen onto the window. This can cause the rubber blade to split apart from its base.
Avoid pouring boiling water onto the window, as this can crack the glass, although I have found ordinary hot tap water to work well.
Rain.
Rain can drastically reduce your vision through the windscreen, windows and door mirrors and this of course affects all other drivers as well, so use your dipped headlights so you can be seen.
Keep the glass clean, as this will enable the wipers to work better.
If you take care of all the points in this post, you will not be taken by surprise by unpleasant weather conditions and remember, don't drive unless you can see fully all round.
If you want to start learning to drive in Gloucester,
Call John Lowe Driving on 01452 313713.
Best Regards,
John Lowe.
