Being able to hire a van from somewhere like this van hire Bristol based company https://www.autolynecarvanrental.co.uk/van-hire-bristol is useful for many people – whether you need to move house, or have a lot of luggage to take on your family camping trip, there are times when your car is just not big enough and you need that extra space that you can get from a van.
Of course, because this is Britain, the weather isn’t always great, and as well as becoming familiar with the van and the controls that you need to use, you also need to be aware of making sure that you are driving your hire van safely in a range of bad weather conditions.
In the Highway Code, the general advice is to refrain from driving at all in bad weather. Of course, if the weather is really bad and there are numerous warnings in place, this is something that you should do if you can, but this is not always possible and if the weather is bad but not horrendous, here are some of the things to be aware of to make your van driving as safe as possible…
Drive More Slowly – Whether it is heavy rain or thick fog, when conditions are more challenging for driving, you should always drive more slowly. If visibility is reduced, then driving more slowly will give you the time you need to react to anything up ahead, and if the roads are icy or wet, then this reduces your risk of slipping or aquaplaning, which is a dangerous, and scary experience for any driver.
Check Your Vehicle Beforehand – Before you set out to drive make sure that you become familiar with the van that you are going to be driving. Learn where the controls are and how to turn on the fog lights for example and spend some time adjusting the seat and the mirrors to a position that feels safe and comfortable for you.
Be Prepared – This is also something that can help you if you have any problems on the road. Having an emergency kit with you, including things like a torch, a phone with a battery charger and blankets and water will help you if you do get stuck anywhere and need to call for assistance.