Drivers urged to 'keep distance' from one vehicle common on icy winter roads
A motoring expert has urged drivers to avoid travelling too closely to a certain vehicle that is commonly seen on icy and snowy roads to prevent serious damage.
Drivers have been urged to avoid following a certain vehicle too closely after parts of the country experienced their first snowfall this winter.
Some parts of the country experienced 15cm of snow earlier in the week, and the Met Office issued weather warnings, meaning drivers should take care when getting behind the wheel.
Graham Conway, Manager of Select Car Leasing, highlighted that drivers should avoid travelling too closely to gritters, as this could cause serious damage to their vehicle.
He warned: "The stones can flick up off the road surface and scratch paintwork. If you are driving directly behind a gritter when it is spreading, this can be much worse.
"If it does cause scratches and small dents in the paintwork, or if there are any existing imperfections, the salt can seep in and lead to corrosion and rust if not cleaned off."
Many motoring experts recommend that all drivers increase their following distance tenfold when travelling in snowy and icy conditions, and motorists should particularly stay well back from gritters.
In a bid to improve traction on the roads, these vehicles spray the grit directly behind them. This means vehicles that are too close can easily get pelted, leaving paintwork chips on the bumper and bonnet.
These will likely need to be resprayed sooner rather than later to improve the vehicle's appearance and prevent rust from forming, which could ultimately lead to the need for replacement panels.
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Graham also suggested that drivers who use their cars in snowy and icy conditions regularly wash their vehicles, which can help prevent rust and other forms of damage.
He advised: "It’s also a good idea to wash your car as often as possible to get rid of any salt residue on the bodywork. Concentrate on wheel arches as they are a hotspot for the accumulation of grit.
"Don’t forget to give your tryes a good clean as well. They will pick up lots of salt and grit, then throw it up underneath the vehicle which can cause longer lasting damage to unseen parts."
Regular cleaning is particularly important for owners of older vehicles, which might not have received as much protection as newer alternatives, and those with cars featuring damage that exposes metal bodywork.
Many roads are typically covered in harsh salt to melt ice in cold weather, making it easy for parts such as sills, wheel arches, and the underside to begin rusting without regular cleaning.
To help drivers, many cleaning companies offer specialist cleaning solutions that can be mixed with warm water and applied underneath a vehicle to give them additional protection.
