LET WESSEX NISSAN STEER YOU TO SAFETY THIS WINTER

Wessex Nissan is encouraging motorist safety in Bristol, Cardiff and Gloucester and providing complimentary winter checks on Nissan vehicles.

The 15-point check will cover areas such as exhaust system, front brake pads/shoes, tyre tread depth and brake and other fluid levels, and is available on all Nissan vehicles aged three years and over.

Customers interested in taking advantage of the offer simply need to contact the dealership and book their appointment.

Dale Richardson, Nissan Franchise Director at Wessex Nissan, says: “Winter is the worst time of year on the roads for motorists. There are so many dangers and drivers can be unaware of problems with their vehicles that may make driving more hazardous.  These winter checks will help to ensure the owner’s car is safe to drive in the worst of conditions. We look forward to welcoming motorists to the dealership for their complimentary check.”

Here are some more tips to make sure you get around safely over the winter:

Nissan’s tips for winter driving

• Don’t just rely on the radio for announcements about accidents, road closures, and road advisories. Use modern methods such as Twitter to hear the latest updates. Many councils and the Highways Agency have ‘Twitter Gritter’ feeds to tell followers the latest information on road conditions.
• Top up the washer fluid bottle while it is warmer, but make sure you use a higher concentration of fluid to water than usual, to prevent freezing. Then give the washers a good squirt so the stronger fluid can reach the pipes and nozzle.
• Everyone knows the advice to take a survival pack if you think there’s a risk you may become stranded. Warm clothing, a phone (with charger) and plenty of fuel are the obvious items. It’s sensible to keep some long-life food in the car too, but don’t take anything you’ll enjoy eating – the chances are you’ll scoff it before a real emergency. And if it’s in a can, don’t forget the opener.
• It’s obvious that you should gauge your speed carefully in snow and ice – but don’t drive too slowly or you’ll lose your momentum, especially up hills.
• Black ice is invisible, and can be deadly. When the temperature dips, be especially wary of roads alongside misty, open fields. If you see an accident, car-shaped hole in a hedge or fresh crumpled car debris up ahead in the road, slow to a crawling pace – it could have been caused by slippery roads.
• If you have a vehicle with four-wheel drive, don’t get overconfident and rely on its abilities to get you out of a problem. The traction and force created by all four wheels driving instead of two helps you get going, but does not help you stop any faster.
• Running the engine on your driveway to demist the windows is sometimes essential – as long as you don’t leave it unattended. But while you are not moving, turn off all unnecessary drains on the electrical system so the fans and heating elements can work more efficiently.

If you are driving a Nissan LEAF electric car this winter, you can be the envy of all your neighbours. Remember to set your climate control timer via your iPhone or computer before you go to bed and you’ll wake up to a car which is warm and defrosted.