Stay Safe On The Ice – Hire A Ride
If in doubt, hire one out
Memories will linger long of this year’s cold snap and snow falls, resulting in yet more traffic chaos and gridlock. Once more, parts of the UK were effectively cut off by bitterly cold conditions that blew a Siberian winter over the country.
Many commentators bemoan the lack of sufficient surface gravelling by the local authorities. The same debate rolls out each year: why do we struggle in the winter when other countries seem to manage with even more adverse conditions? The truth is, we’re just not adequately equipped to deal with the worst winter has to offer.
Other places that experience heavy snowfalls are better prepared simply because they have to deal with that problem for longer periods of the year, justifying a much larger budget. As we seldom get more than one or two weeks of heavy snow in most of the British Isles, it just doesn’t warrant the same level of investment here – especially in these cash-strapped times.
Instead, the government advice in the last few years has been for people to stay inside and avoid any unnecessary journeys when the snow comes down. Met office reports keep us all up to date with increasingly more accurate forecasts, so we have a better idea of when the snows will hit – but for many people, a journey will be an inevitable part of the day, regardless of the weather. Sometimes, it’s just not possible to stay indoors.
For a lot of people, it’s a very stressful experience to drive in snowy or icy conditions. And although it is possible to make matters a little easier through careful driving and safety measures such as winter tyres on the car, it can still be a frightening experience.
This is where hiring a taxi can help. If you find the conditions outside too perilous for you to feel comfortable driving, consider passing the responsibility to a more confident driver. Remember that most private hire companies will be staffed by drivers with thousands of hours experience of urban driving in a wide variety of conditions, and will be best equipped to deal with any eventuality.
With a private driver, you’re paying by distance, not by time. So as long as you’re factoring in plenty of time for your journey, you’ll be in safe hands. If you’re not convinced you’ll get a veteran driver, simply get in touch with the company in advance and express your concern, stating that you specifically want a driver experienced in those conditions.
Your safety is paramount to the company supplying your ride – but so too is their vehicle, which they need to keep on the road. Subsequently, your driver will be wise to the sometimes unpredictable nature of the weather, as well as the other motorists out there, and he (or she) will be on full alert for the duration of your journey.
In many ways, hiring a ride will be the safest and most comfortable way of getting around when it’s become icy and hazardous out on the roads. Use London Directory Lists to locate taxi and private hire companies near to where you live and be sure to make a note of their contact numbers – that way you’ll be prepared for the next time we get hit with freak snowstorms!
Ian Terry
icy roads, online directory, private driver, taxi, winter driving
