With the festive season officially over a lot of us will be returning to work today, which can only mean one thing…endless traffic jams on the roads and the stress of January kicking in. Most of us out there will be more than familiar with the morning rush and, will well and truly despise it. However it’s something that isn’t going to go away anytime soon, and therefore we should handle it in the sincerest way possible. That means not letting road rage get the better of you as other drivers irritate you in the early morning rush.
To make returning to work that little more daunting for those of us doing so, some of us woke to find a thin blanket of snow on the ground. Thankfully on most roads across South Yorkshire the snow had only managed to settle on the footpaths and side roads so the main roads stayed clear. However according to the weather forecast it is just a mild taster of the weather that we are expected to witness over the next month as the big freeze returns. In order to combat that hopefully our councils will be more than prepared and take to the roads early with grit to make sure that we don’t suffer the same effects as we did in early December.
Drivers using the roads over this next month should be prepared for the worst of the weather and take precautions just in case their vehicle breaks down. Drivers should make sure that they travel on a full tank of petrol, in the unlikely event that they become stranded or stuck in a traffic jam they will need the heater on their vehicle to keep warm. They should also carry a winter emergency kit with them at all times, the kit should include a blanket to keep them warm if they do become stranded, a number of food and water supplies and a small first aid kit. Along with warm clothing and suitable winter boots just in case they have to walk a long distance in the cold. Hopefully the snow won’t have the impact that it did in December but it’s always best to be prepared.
In the instance that you do become involved in such a situation you should always carry the number of a breakdown company on you, because you never know when you might need their assistance. In order to prevent such a thing happening to you this winter you should also make sure that the necessary checks are carried out on your vehicle. You should make sure that your vehicles have above the legal amount of wheel trim on their tyres, and that it has enough oil and water. You should also ensure that any mechanical problems you have become aware of are looked at to avoid your vehicle breaking down in such unfortunate weather conditions.
Snow and ice on the roads can create some of the worst driving conditions and make road traffic accidents occurring much more possible. If you become involved in a road traffic accident this winter and it wasn’t your fault then you may be able to make an injury compensation claim. Prior to doing so you should try to gather as much information about the accident together as possible. For example the name and contact details of the other party involved in the accident, along with their insurance details. You should also have any information about the injuries you sustained at hand, this will give the law firm handling your claim a better idea of the type of claim they are dealing with.
