Winter driving clinics

We've teamed up with Halfords to offer special winter driving clinics to help ensure your vehicle is in tip-top shape to cope with the seasonal weather.

Halfords will be carrying out free winter checks on vehicles, while the council's road safety team will be offering advice about tyre safety and showing drivers how to check their tyre tread.

Free 'tread buddy'

Anyone calling in for one of the special sessions will receive a free tyre 'tread buddy' which will help them stay on the right side of the law.

Dates and times of the clinics

Clinics are being held at selected branches of Halfords next week from 10am until 12noon.

Monday 12 November

Halfords, Victoria Retail Park, Netherfield NG4 2PE

Halfords, Baums Lane, Nottingham Road, Mansfield NG18 2RA

Tuesday 13 November

Halfords, Unit 3, Carlton Road, Worksop, S80 1PH

Halfords, Chilwell Retail Park, Chilwell, NG9 6DS 

Wednesday 14 November

Halfords, Chilwell Retail Park, Chilwell, NG9 6DS

Thursday 15 November

Halfords, Baums Lane, Nottingham Road, Mansfield NG18 2RA

Halfords, Forrest Retail Park, Sutton in Ashfield NG17 1BE 

Friday 16 November

Halfords, Unit 3, Carlton Road, Worksop, S80 1PH

Halfords, Forrest Retail Park, Sutton in Ashfield NG17 1BE

Preparing your vehicle for winter

Tyres

• should have a legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm over the central three-quarters of the tyre
• the recommended minimum tread is 3mm
• check them regularly for damage – bulges, cracks, slow punctures
• check your tyre pressure meets the level recommended for winter conditions.

Antifreeze

• anti-freeze should be changed at least every two years as part of your service
• you need a 50-50 mix of anti-freeze and water.

Screen Wash

• ensure that you add screen wash to your washer bottle and top it up regularly
• don’t add anti-freeze to your windscreen washer bottle – it is corrosive and will damage paintwork.

Battery

• the average life of a battery is five years
• remember that during winter months the battery will drain more quickly with the additional use of electrical items such as heaters, lights and heated rear windscreen.

Inside the car

Make sure you’re ready for winter by preparing an emergency kit containing the following:

• ice scraper
• de-Icer
• torch and spare batteries
• warm clothes and blanket
• boots or sturdy footwear
• first aid kit
• sunglasses
• road atlas and/or sat nav
• personal medication.

For longer journeys or during severe weather you should also carry jump leads, mobile phone charger, shovel, food and warm drink and a reflective warning sign.