Road safety warning issued ahead of Bank Holiday cold snap
By Hayden Moore
FROSTY temperatures are expected to hit Ireland this weekend, with AA Ireland advising motorists to take extra precaution on the roads.
As the Bank Holiday weekend arrives a sudden drop in temperatures is on route, with Met Eireann predicting temperatures to be as low as -2.
According to Conor Faughnan, Director of Consumer Affairs with AA, the Bank Holiday coincides with the school mid-term, with many families planning trips over the coming weekend.
Mr Faughan added: “Met Eireann have also warned that temperatures could drop significantly over the weekend, resulting in a risk of frost, so we urge all motorists to drive with extra care.”
With icy-conditions on the roads and frosty conditions predicted, AA has urged motorists to “check the condition of their car battery” ahead of the “first true cold spell we’ve had this year since Storm Emma back in April.”
“If you’re planning a cross-country journey then it’s no harm to check the condition of your tyres and give the car a quick once-over before you leave to keep you as safe as possible,” Mr Faughnan said.
Advice has also been issued to those who plan to have their car parked up for the weekend.
“Every year when temperatures drop, our AA Rescue team sees a surge in battery related callouts”, Mr Faughnan said.
“The cold conditions combined with a period of the car being idle can leave the car unable to start when you get back into it to make the commute to work next Tuesday.
“If you are ditching your car for the weekend, it can still be worth occasionally starting it and leaving it run for a few minutes at some stage just to keep it in running order.”
Keep up-to-date on road conditions at the AA Roadwatch Twitter account.
