Carlow Gardaí issue advice as they urge locals to ensure their vehicle is 'Winter Ready'

Carlow Gardaí urge locals to be 'Winter Ready'. Check out the below advice.

Get your vehicle serviced before winter sets in. Ensure it is ready for winter weather conditions. Check the brakes, lights, wipers, tyre tread and de-mist functions.

What can I do to prepare my vehicle?

Lights: Ensure all indicators, headlamps and fog lights are clean and working.

Liquids: Ensure the water reservoir is up to the maximum mark and correctly mixed with anti-freeze. Top up your coolant and screen wash.

Oil: Check and top it up when needed. Look for signs of leakages on the ground under the vehicle.

Electrics: Check your dashboard before and after starting the engine. Listen for a weak battery and replace, if necessary.

Windscreen Wipers: Clean them regularly and replace every 12 months.

Safety Assist: Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for any extra safety assist technology it may have, e.g. Advanced Braking System (ABS).

Tyres are your vehicle’s only contact with the road. Check your tyre treads and pressure, including the spare tyre. The minimum legal limit is 1.6mm for a car (1mm for motorcycles), but a minimum tread of 3mm is advised.