How To Drive Safely in Snow, Rain and Fog - And Make Sure Your Taxi Is Up For It
As we head into the autumn season, we’re in for an array of weather conditions that you need to be aware of as a taxi driver. In this article, we’ll look at how to drive safely in rain, snow, and fog - and look after your taxi.
- In the UK, the autumn and winter months typically see the most challenging weather conditions, with a mix of rain, fog, snow, and strong winds.
- These can have a serious impact on your reactions to hazards and affect your own safety and that of others.
- Driving in rain can double your stopping distance - the time it takes between braking and coming to a safe stop.
- Meanwhile, driving in snow and ice can make stopping distances up to 10 times slower .
Table of Contents
4. Planning ahead for your shift
5. How do I protect my taxi during the winter weather?
6. How can I improve my passengers’ experience in bad weather?
It’s that time of the year again when everything starts to get a little more wet and windy. With this in mind, it’s never too early to start preparing for the autumn and winter weather - especially if you’re a taxi driver.
Read on for our top tips on driving in rain, fog, snow, and ice - and make sure your taxi is always prepared, come rain or shine.
Driving your taxi in the rain
In the UK, rain is very common in general. Though in the autumn months from around September to November, it’s common to see lots of heavier showers combined with stronger winds.
Add falling leaves and twigs into the mix, and you get slippery, muddier roads with more debris flying around.
Driving in wet conditions makes your stopping distance double the time it normally takes to come to a safe stop. Meaning it’s important to take caution and drive slower than you would in dry conditions.
Here are some tips for driving your taxi in the rain:
- Increase your distance from the vehicle in front
- Drive below the speed limit (remember: the national speed limit means up to, and is not the default for all weather conditions)
- Be wary of spray from larger vehicles and keep a safe distance from these - especially when driving along open roads in high winds
- Make sure to use your windscreen wipers so you can see clearly through your taxi windscreen
- Use your demisters to avoid misting inside your taxi
- Carefully test your brakes after driving through deep puddles to make sure they are working effectively, without scaring your passengers
Driving your taxi in fog
Driving in fog is particularly unpleasant as it can seriously impact your visibility on the road. The important thing to note with fog is that it can be patchy, meaning you can think it’s passed before encountering it again further down the road.
Your taxi’s fog lights will help you to see through fog, while making sure you’re visible to other road users. However, these should only be used once visibility becomes reduced to under 100 metres, according to the Highway Code.
It’s also important to turn them off once you can see clearly again, as they can dazzle other drivers and make your brake lights harder to see.
When driving your taxi in foggy conditions, we’d recommend you:
- Drive your taxi at a reduced speed and take your time
- Leave a larger gap between you and the vehicle in front
- Open your window at junctions to hear traffic where you can’t see it
- Only turn off your fog lights once visibility has improved
- Only turn off your fog lights once visibility has improved
Driving your taxi in snow and ice
As the weather gets colder, road conditions can become more treacherous with sleet, snow, and ice.
It’s vital to take extra care and precaution when driving your taxi in these conditions for the safety of both you and your passengers.
Black ice is especially dangerous as it often lies undetected on the roads and cannot be seen. When driving in snow and ice, your stopping distance can be as much as 10 times slower, so it’s essential to take your time.
It’s generally recommended that you:
- Drive your taxi as slow as possible in as high a gear as possible
- Avoid sudden braking or accelerating as this could cause wheelspins or skidding
- Brake slowly and gently when driving over snow and ice and steer steadily
- Steer gently into the skid if your taxi starts to skid to one side
- Keep well back from the vehicle in front of you
- Keep well back from the vehicle in front of you
- Take extra care when driving up or downhill - aim to do this gradually in one go without stopping
- Stick to main roads as these will have been gritted more often than rural roads
Planning ahead for your taxi shift
Before setting off in wintry weather, you should deice all windows and windscreen areas to make sure you can see clearly out of your taxi. Don’t forget to sweep off any snow sitting on the roof of your taxi as this could fall down onto your windscreen later and obstruct your vision.
To be extra prepared, you may want to pack a winter driving kit to keep inside your taxi. This may contain a spare jumper and blankets, snacks and extra bottles of water, a torch, wellies, a warning triangle and so on.
Make sure your phone is fully charged for each workday in case of any emergencies and consider bringing a portable charger with you in the instance you’re unable to charge in your taxi.
Other tips to help you plan ahead for your taxi shift include:
- Checking the weather forecast regularly to keep up to date with any weather changes
- Keep note of any weather warnings issued and consider how these may impact your journeys
- Allow plenty of time for travelling in snowy weather
- Make sure your sat nav is up to date and fully operational
- Plan your routes according to the weather reports and traffic information
How do I protect my taxi during the winter weather?
Your taxi will likely require more maintenance in the winter than in the summer. This is because it will be exposed to much harsher weather conditions and substances like grit.
Grit can be corrosive and damage your paintwork, so it's important to regularly hose down your taxi during winter.
Other checks you may want to make to look after your taxi in the winter include:
Tyres
Make sure your tyres are correctly inflated and have at least 1.6mm of tread depth remaining around the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre.
Importance: Insufficient tyres pose a safety risk not just to you but to other road users. They can be especially dangerous when driving in snow and ice.
Windscreen wipers
In the autumn and winter months, you’ll be using your wipers a lot more with sudden heavy downpours.
Importance: With this in mind, check the condition of your wiper blades to make sure there are no visible signs of damage. If your wiper blades are over a year old, then it’s likely they will need replacing.
Did you know you can save 10% on new wipers with our partner Wiper Blades? check out our partners page to learn more and access this discount.
Lights
You must make sure all the lights on your taxi are working, from brake lights and fog lights to indicators and headlights.
Importance: With less daylight in autumn and winter, it’s important to make sure you can see and be seen at all times on the road. Whatever the weather conditions.
Brakes
If you notice any change in your brakes and feel like they are less sensitive or reactive, you should have this checked immediately.
Importance: Top-notch brakes are vital to driving safely in the snow and ice and will help you come to a safe stop.
You should also make sure fluids like oil and windscreen washer fluid have been topped up in your taxi. As well as having enough fuel for your journeys each day.
How can I improve my passengers’ experience in bad weather?
As a taxi driver, the satisfaction of your passengers is of paramount importance. This is vital to maintain a good reputation and increase the chances of repeat customers.
However, when it comes to driving in snow and ice, the safety of both you and your passengers must be the focus.
This may mean allowing for extra time on your journeys, meaning the customer may not be able to get where they need to as quickly. To avoid any unhappy customers, let them know that there may be some delays due to the weather conditions.
Do not take any unreasonable requests and explain to the passenger that you have a duty of care to them.
Other things you can do to improve customer satisfaction in your cab include:
- Keeping a clean interior to welcome them - free from empty food and drink packaging or dirt
- Make sure they are comfortable with the temperature inside your taxi and offer to make it warmer for them if needed
- Use rubber floor mats as these can be wiped down easily and will reduce the risk of slipping
- Make sure to drop passengers off at a safe drop-off point - try to avoid dropping them off near large patches of ice when exiting your taxi
- Keep passengers updated on any route changes from traffic or weather conditions and how this might affect their journey
Whatever the weather, you’ll want to make sure your passengers have a comfortable, enjoyable journey. For more information on this, read our article on tips for improving your customer service.
We hope you’ve found this article useful and feel well-prepared to take on the more challenging weather to come this year. Read more of our top tips for driving this winter and how you can make your workday easier.
If you are browsing for a new taxi for sale before the winter weather hits, at The Taxi Centre we have a wide selection of new taxis for you to choose from. These include everything from standard taxis, electric taxis, hybrid taxis, minibuses, purpose-built taxis, and more.
Whatever it is you’re looking for, you can be sure to find it at The Taxi Centre. Not sure what you’re looking for? Get in touch with an expert from our team who can help you find the perfect taxi for you.