07.10.09 Drivers in Gloucestershire are being warned to slow down as rain hits the county after weeks of dry weather. A long period of dry weather can result in a layer of traffic film on the roads, which then gets slippery when wet. This, coupled with drivers having had the added confidence of dry roads for so long, often ends in cars skidding off the roads.

The advice is: slow down – reduce your speed; avoid heavy braking; anticipate where oil and gravel may collect, at junctions for example, and could lead to wheel spinning; and turn and manoeuvre gently. For more information about winter driving, see our Facts Sheets.