Motorists warned of driving dangers during Storm Emma

AA Ireland is calling on motorists to exercise additional caution when driving over the coming days, as weather conditions deteriorated on Tuesday night with a large build-up of snow across the east and south-east coast.

Met Eireann have issued a Status Red Snow-Ice warning for 5 counties (Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Wicklow and Meath) which will be in effect until early Thursday afternoon, while a nationwide Status Orange Snow-Ice warning is in place for Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Wexford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cork, Tipperary, and Waterford. Meanwhile, a Status Yellow Weather Advisory will remain in place until Saturday, March 03. With driving and weather conditions expected to worsen further later in the week, motorists are being urged to slow down, allow extra stopping distance between their car and any car in front of them, and to expect poor visibility conditions if driving in falling snow.

“While we have had some snow and icy conditions already in recent months, what we are seeing already this week and what we can expect to see late Thursday and into Friday is really unlike anything we have seen for a number of years. The key message for motorists is to adapt your driving to the weather conditions, be on the lookout for vulnerable road users, and make sure your windscreen, windows and mirrors are fully de-iced before you start your journey. We’ve all seen someone driving around with only a few inches of their windscreen cleared and it’s one of the most dangerous practices motorists could do,” Conor Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs warned. “You’re putting yourself in a scenario where you can’t what’s on the road ahead of you clearly and you’ll also struggle to see any cyclists or pedestrians who may also be on the road.”

“The best advice is to add an extra fifteen minutes onto your normal commute and use that extra time to get your windows clear, as well as making allowances for the extra traffic you are likely to see on key routes.”

AA Rescue, the insurance intermediary’s breakdown service, is also making extra resources available in the coming days to accommodate an expected spike in breakdowns. AA Rescue patrols offer roadside assistance on a nationwide scale.

“Whenever temperatures dip there’s a few breakdown issues that motorists need to be particularly mindful of. If you have an older or weaker battery the sudden temperature dip may result in your car struggling to start after being idle overnight. If your car has been unused for a number over the weekend and into the start of the week it can be worth taking it for a short drive before the weather worsens to ensure your battery is functioning correctly,” Faughnan added. “Secondly, whatever you do, don’t pour boiling water over your windscreen when trying to defrost it in the morning as it’s very likely to crack the glass. Warm water will get your windows clear and get you on the road, boiling water may leave you waiting for assistance.”

“Finally, take some time to check the renewal dates for any of your motor, home, AA Rescue or travel insurance policies which you may have in place. The last thing you want is to find out when it’s too late that your cover actually lapsed in the days before the worst of Storm Emma passed over Ireland and that you’re left to foot a significant bill yourself.

Motorists can keep up with the latest on traffic and routes affected by the weather conditions over the coming days by visiting the AA Roadwatch Newsroom.