Bridgestone urge motorists to stay safe on the road over the winter months with important advice
Motorists are being urged to adopt some simple driving habits to stay as safe as possible this winter
With the temperatures plummeting across the UK in recent days and Jack Frost making an appearance, Bridgestone is urging motorists to take some simple driving tips to stay as safe as possible this Christmas and over the winter period.
With a marked drop in temperatures now being felt, Bridgestone’s North Region Managing Director Andrea Manenti is once again calling on motorists to adopt some simple driving habits to stay as safe as possible.
Andrea said: “Driving in winter conditions is something everyone must prepare for. It is not only about having the right tyres; the driver’s behaviour is also essential in these conditions as he or she needs to understand and adapt to different winter hazards.
“It is therefore crucial to not only prepare our vehicles, but also ourselves when the weather gets cold.”
Some of the tips include checking tyre pressure and tread depth, after surveys carried out by Tyresafe revealed that more than 27% of tyres were already illegal when they were eventually replaced by motorists.
That equates to more than one-in-four of the 37 million cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) on the UK’s roads being driven with a tyre that could cost its driver a £2,500 fine and three penalty points, an MoT failure – or worse.
Bridgestone’s tips for motorists include:
· Periodically check traction, or available grip, when driving in challenging conditions. Road conditions can change drastically in a short period of time or distance in winter. Apply the brakes with moderate pressure to determine the available grip and modify your driving, if needed, to respond to ever-changing road conditions.
· Under-inflated tyres not only compromise motorists’ ability to brake and manoeuvre safely, but they also consume more fuel and wear out faster. Information on the recommended tyre pressure can be found in the operating manual, on the inside of the door pillars or under your fuel cap.
· The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. Insert a 20p coin in the tread; if you can see the border, it’s time to change the tyres.
· Maximise available grip by separating driving manoeuvres when negotiating a curve. Brake to an appropriate speed while travelling in a straight line prior to a curve. This allows you to use all the available grip for negotiating the curve. Accelerate gradually when you are able to straighten the steering wheel at the exit of the turn.
· Avoid cruise control in wet, icy or snowy conditions. Maintain control of acceleration and deceleration at all times.
· Avoid driving in bad weather conditions. Your safety comes first.
Meanwhile, both Bridgestone boasts an all-weather tyre option which could be the most appropriate for the unpredictable UK climate.
The Bridgestone Weather Control A005 handles everyday driving challenges across all four seasons without compromising on wear performance - which is just about perfect for driving conditions in the UK and the current cold snap.
With a best-in-class EU label A-grade in wet grip1, the award winning product ensures outstanding control in the wet, enhanced snow performance2 and all without compromising on wear life3.
Andrea added: “We would recommend that motorists consider an All Season Tyre. The Bridgestone Weather Control A005 EVO take motorists safely into cold and more challenging winter conditions. Both products also boast tuned tread patterns for low noise and optimum road contact in all surface conditions.”
The Bridgestone Weather Control A005 EVO delivers significant benefits in terms of Energy, Efficiency, Ecology, Economy and Ease, in line with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment – the broad, global corporate commitment that clearly defines the value the company is promising to deliver to society, customers, and future generations in eight focus areas.
For more general information about tips for your tyre safety this winter, visit Bridgestone Tyre Safety Tips and for details of Bridgestone All Season products visit Weather Control (bridgestone.co.uk)
1 EU Label Grade "A", the highest ranking label for wet grip
2 Certified 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake Marking (3PMSF)
Based on the internal tests carried out by Bridgestone vs. Weather Control A005 in Sweden proving ground. Tyre size 205/55 R16 94V. Tractive Force in [5-35 kph] range increased by 3% vs. predecessor. Snow Braking distance in [40-5 kph] range decreased by 3% vs. predecessor. Lateral acceleration increased by 4% vs. predecessor in Snow slalom test at 50kph.
3 Offering the same mileage as our premium summer tyres
Same mileage potential of its predecessor vs our premium summer tyres. Based on the internal tests carried out by Bridgestone vs. Weather Control A005 in indoor Lab. Tyre size 205/55 R16 94V. Tyre life depends on driving style, tyre inflation pressure, tyre and vehicle maintenance, weather condition, etc.
ENDS
Media information:
For more information about this press release, or if you have any more questions, please call Ben Smallman at Ben Smallman PR on 07833 463195 or email ben@bensmallmanpr.com
About Bridgestone in Europe, Middle East, India and Africa
Bridgestone in Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa (Bridgestone EMIA) is the regional Strategic Business Unit of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions.
Headquartered in Zaventem (Belgium), Bridgestone EMIA employs more than 20,000 people and conducts business in 40 countries across the region.
Bridgestone offers a diverse portfolio of premium tyres, tyre technologies and advanced mobility solutions. The company’s vision is to provide social and customer value as a sustainable solutions company. The Bridgestone E8 Commitment is a broad, global corporate commitment that clearly defines the value the company is promising to deliver to society, our customers and future generations in eight focus areas; Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease and Empowerment. These provide a compass to guide strategic priorities, decision making and actions throughout every area of the business.
For more information about Bridgestone in EMIA, please visit www.bridgestone-emia.com and press.bridgestone-emia.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.