Cold UK temperatures mean more accidents due to slippery roads

While it should come as no surprise to readers that slippery roads contribute to more accidents in colder weather in the UK, the latest drop in temperatures has prompted Cooper Tire to remind drivers of the last two years of accident data, suggesting that specialist winter tyres could help reduce the chances of a prang. During November and December 2011 the UK’s average temperature fell from 8.7°C to 4.8°C and Department for Transport figures showed a significant rise in accidents involving slippery roads in the winter months. A similar trend was recorded in 2010.

Estimates say that less than five per cent of motorists fit winter tyres to their cars each year which could mean more than 27 million cars on UK roads are now using tyres not suited to the conditions they face each day. “Many of us have seen the performance of winter tyres in action on the continent,” said Pete McNally, general manager of Cooper Tires’ European Technical Centre.

“Anyone who’s been on a ski holiday will have seen Europeans driving around on snow with levels of grip that most UK motorists only dream of in the winter. British drivers need to realise that winter tyres not only offer a safer option when it snows, they are also  specifically designed to operate at temperatures below 7°C, making them ideal from December right through to April when the temperatures usually rise again.”

Cooper has its WM-SA2 and WeatherMaster Snow on sale in the UK to provide better grip in lower temperatures whether surfaces are dry, wet or icy. The company also notes that more than 130,000 miles (or 59 per cent) of Britain’s roads will never see a gritting lorry through the course of the winter, according to Local Government Association data.

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