Winter driving in Ireland, is it any different? Of course you know how to drive - but winter driving is more challenging than cruising at a warm beach resort and winter driving in Ireland might test your limits (and patience) more than expected. And what can you expect? The unexpected ... to help you along, here are some sensible hints on winter driving in Ireland.
1. Stay Put - Simply Don't Drive!
Copyright Bernd Biege 2010
This might sound rather stupid - but ask yourself: Is your journey really necessary? If it is, you have no choice. If it isn't, will it make sense to brave the winter conditions? Say you want to visit an attraction a few dozen miles away. It will take you time, it will be hazardous. And you might arrive to find the attraction closed due to bad weather.
Which neatly ties in with the second part of this hint: Phone ahead and find out, what you can expect! Your flight might be delayed or even cancelled, the attraction you planned to see might be closed. Making your projected journey senseless.
2. Expect to Drive Longer - Two to Three Times Longer!
While under normal conditions you might be comfortably making 40 to 70 miles an hour (depending on the road you use), in wintery conditions this will be cut by a huge amount. Not only because of the weather conditions, but also because of other drivers. Be assured that you will find any number of "mobile roadblocks" (as I fondly call them) hogging the whole road and going at a daring 15 mph in even the best conditions. And you will not be able to overtake safely ...
3. Fill up Your Tank (and Maybe Carry a Spare)!
You might have enough petrol to make it there and back under normal conditions, but then the wintry weather might lead to longer detours or even getting stuck in a traffic jam. So fill up to the max and top up when you are down to half a tank.4. Bring a Fully-Charged and Operational Mobile Phone!
Trust me - if you get stuck somewhere, there will be no public phone and no inhabited house nearby. Without a mobile phone you are definitely lost. Check that you have it fully charged and (if it is not an Irish phone) that it actually will work on an Irish network.5. Clear Your Windows and Headlights, Completely!
Unless you are driving a tank under hostile fire, there is absolutely no sense to make do with an letterbox-size slit to peek through while driving. Not only do you look very silly, you are also a lethal danger to others and yourself. Aim for 360-degree-vision if possible. Clear all windows before heading off. Also free your wing mirrors from ice. And while your at it, also wipe clear your headlights at least.
6. Make Sure Your Windscreen Wiper Fluid is Topped up and has Anti-Freeze!
This is especially important if you have a rental car - to save on costs many operators do skimp on anti-freeze and simply top up (if at all in some cases) with water. Which is OK about 95% of the tourist season. As soon as a cold spell hits Ireland, give your wiper fluid tank a sniff. If it smells like nothing, hit the nearest garage and buy some anti-freeze. A few Euros well invested in exchange for the opportunity to actually drive with a clean windscreen.7. Clear Snow Off Your Car!
Don't stop with the windows and headlights if a substantial amount of snow has collected on your vehicle - there is nothing (at least not a lot) more guaranteed to make you skip a heartbeat than when suddenly the snow from your hood takes off and immediately lands on your windscreen. You'll be blind. And the wipers might not cope.
And other drivers will thank you as well for missing a similar experience when the snow on roof and boot takes off ...
8. Don't Accelerate and Brake like Brad Keselowski!
You might be a sporty driver, but you'll want to avoid wheels spinning when driving off and wheels locking up while you are heading with undiminished speed towards an intersection. Take it easy. And here's a hint: Try driving off in second gear if your wheels start spinning in first gear. And try to slow down well in advance by using your motor, lower gears and a judicious amount of braking.
9. Heed Other Drivers' Warnings!
If Irish motorists are good at one thing, it is warning other motorists of dangers ahead. If you see oncoming drivers flashing their headlights or waving their hands, slow down and take it really easy for the next half mile or so. There might be a slippery patch, a cow on the road or a speed-camera waiting.
10. Always Expect the Worst - Especially Around a Bend!
Irish roads are, for the most part, narrow and winding. Which means there might be surprises behind every corner. These could seriously alter your plans within a split second. So slow down if you can't see the full braking distance ahead. And remember that your braking distance on snow and ice will be considerably longer, up to ten times as long. You do not want it shortened by the parked tractor ahead.
11. Bring Warm Clothing and a Blanket!
Say you are heading to the theatre in your Sunday best - this will not be very warm if you get stuck somewhere, have to walk or simply wait. Just throw an extra pullover and/or coat, a blanket and maybe a woolly hat in the boot. Just in case. Some people even recommend taking a flask of hot water along. Anything to keep you warm.
12. Get Information!
Here are the most important websites you should check:
- Department of Transport for general transport information,
- Met Éireann for weather reports,
- AA Roadwatch for traffic reports (includes reports on airports and ferries)
- Irish Rail,
- Bus Éireann,
- Dublin Bus,
- Translink for public transport in Northern Ireland.
