Road safety advice issued to drivers with status yellow ice warning in place

With ground temperatures set to plummet and cause icy conditions in the coming days, advice has been issued to drivers on steps to take to ensure road safety. 

Liberty Insurance is advising all road users to reduce the risks of accidents on Irish roads ahead of the cold snap this week.

Met Éireann issued a status yellow ice warning for the whole country due to a significant drop in ground temperatures, which is in place until 10am Tuesday 07th March. In Northern Ireland, the UK Met Office have a similar warning in place.

Ground temperatures are forecast to reach as low as minus four degrees overnight, through into Wednesday morning.

In advance of these conditions, preparing for a hazardous situation, such as a breakdown, is essential according to the insurer.

Liberty is advising motorists of a number of practical measures and precautions they can take if travelling over the coming days.

Check the Tread Depth on Tyres
Low tyre tread depth is hazardous for drivers and other road users. Worn tyres are more likely to fail to grip icy or wet roads; they are also less efficient at braking suddenly and more prone to punctures. Motorists should ensure that tyre tread depths are at least the legal minimum limit of 1.6mm, and check this regularly.

Carry an Emergency equipment kit
The research last year found that only around half of motorists carry an emergency breakdown kit (52% of men and 42% of women). Motorists should make sure their car has such a kit, which is fully stocked with items including a tyre inflator, de-icing equipment or spray, jack, jump leads, a warning triangle, and hi-vis clothing.

Ensure your vehicle is serviced
With increases in the cost of living in recent months, many motorists may have put off servicing their vehicle, but the majority of minor breakdowns on Irish roads can be prevented with regular servicing. Minor breakdowns include a flat tyre, minor mechanical, electrical or electronic breakdowns such as a run-down battery or a blown fuse. Consistent vehicle servicing will reduce the risk of being involved in a breakdown or a hazardous situation on Irish roads.

Exercise caution when driving
Motorists should take note of national and localised weather warnings, and exercise caution on the road. Braking distances can be much longer on icy roads, so motorists should slow down. When driving in low visibility, motorists should ensure they have a clear windscreen when driving in subzero temperatures, switch on their fog lights, and remember to switch them off again when driving in normal conditions.

Avoid excessive use of the brakes if entering a skid
If you do start to skid on a patch of slippery road, avoid using the brakes as this will prolong the skid. Instead, take your foot off the accelerator to allow yourself to reduce speed until you can gain control of the car. 

Be particularly mindful of other road users
Motorists should always take care of other road users such as cyclists or pedestrians. In hazardous conditions, where road surfaces can be slippy, or visibility is poor, such road users can be particularly vulnerable. Motorists should ensure they keep a safe distance from other road users, drive at suitable speeds and use appropriate lights for their surroundings.

Jose Luis Garcia, Chief Product Officer for Liberty’s European Operations, said: “The status yellow ice warnings by Met Éireann and the Met Office include the risk of severe frost and, all of which pose serious risks to motorists across the country. We would advise all motorists making essential journeys during this period to heed weather warnings and take all necessary precautions.

“There are a number of ways to reduce the risk of road accidents and hazards on Irish roads, particularly during a period of severe weather. Ensuring your vehicle is serviced, that you have an emergency kit in your car, that tyre tread depths are at least the legal minimum limit are really important – not only in severe weather conditions, but throughout the course of the year.

“Most importantly, we’d advise motorists to slow down, exercise caution while driving and be particularly mindful of other road users who are particularly vulnerable in adverse weather.

“Through simple checks, motorists have the power to better protect themselves from the unexpected and with Liberty’s new modular and customisable motor insurance, our customers have the power to choose and only pay for the cover that they need”.