A motoring expert has issued drivers with an urgent warning amid serious alerts from Met Éireann that traffic issues could occur tenfold this weekend as Yellow and Orange snow/ice cautions set in.
The weather giant has warned that possible impacts include hazardous travelling conditions, poor visibility and public transport and travel disruption — the entire county is under a Status Yellow Low-Temperature warning, while several counties are now under an orange snow/ice caution.
Geraldine Herbert, motoring expert and motoring editor at the Sunday Independent spoke to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland on Friday, issuing a stark warning to drivers taking to the roads this weekend.
WARNING TO DRIVERS
A lot people will be faced with the situation that they’ll just have to get a move on and get out the door. So clear your windows and your mirrors — make sure you can see everything,’ she said.
In the case of snowfall, the motoring expert explained that failing to clear snow off of your car roof could prove detrimental to your safety on the roads this weekend, explaining that if ‘you stop in a hurry, that can come down,’ blocking your view of the road ahead.
‘When you’re setting off, make sure then that you can see everything, check that your lights are working and really it’s a matter of keeping your speed down once you’re out and about… slow down – your distance between you and the car in front has to be increased considerably,’ the expert told Morning Ireland’s Áine Lawlor.
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‘NO HARSH BRAKING’
She continued: ‘Read the road ahead of you, and just generally, no harsh braking, no harsh accelerating, just really gently does it is the key to success on the roads when it’s icy.’
With skidding also on the minds of a lot of drivers this weekend, Ms Herbert issued some expert advice on what to do if you do find yourself in a skid on snow and ice-covered roads over the weekend.
‘If the car skids, the advice is always turn into the skid,’ she said. So basically it’s counterintuitive in that sense you should turn into the skids, but the big thing is not to panic, just slow down, take your foot off the accelerator, and your car will return.’
Snow scenes in Kildare. Credit: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie
‘DON’T PANIC’
‘If you remember nothing else, just steer in the direction that you need to go in, but the big thing is just don’t panic and don’t hit those brakes.
The motoring editor also suggested that motorists stick to busier roads this weekend, as it’s much more likely that they’ll be gritted, as opposed to back roads, lanes and housing developments.
The expert also had this advice if you happen to find yourself in an emergency, or end up stuck in your car for any reason in the coming days, as temperatures plummet towards -5C or lower.
EMERGENCIES
‘An emergency kit isn’t a bad idea, but a blanket and it’s just a scraper, a screen scraper and a mobile phone, just to ensure that your mobile phone is charged.
‘That’s the big thing more than anything… but I mean, you could also have a shovel or a torch, blankets, those sort of things… but the key thing is a mobile phone and an ice-scraper.’
Ms Herbert’s expert advice comes amid warnings from An Garda Síochánaahead of this weekend’s weather warnings, some of which will come into effect this evening.
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) January 3, 2025
A spokesperson said: ‘A Status Orange Snow-Ice warning has been issued by Met Éireann for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary for the weekend with Status Yellow warnings issued for a number of other counties.
‘An Garda Síochána is reminding all road users to take extra care if using our roads this weekend, as wintry showers and icy surfaces will lead to difficult travel conditions.’
They continued: ‘Driving conditions may be hazardous, even where roads are gritted. Slow down, drive with caution, be aware of other road users and allow extra time for your journey. Take extra care while walking on footpaths and other potentially slippery surfaces.’
‘PLAN AHEAD’
Anyone travelling on long journeys this weekend is being asked by Gardaí to check weather and road conditions not only where they are travelling from but also for their intended destination and along the route.
It is understood that conditions are set to vary significantly from area to area in the coming hours and days.
‘Keep your phone charged and take it with you on all journeys. In an emergency, call 999 or 112,’ the spokesperson said.
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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