Mukuru Now Able to Offer Loans to Individuals and SMEs Following RBZ Licensing Mukuru Financial Services Zimbabwe Limited has been granted the green light to expand its operations by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). Known for its money transfer services, Mukuru is now authorised to operate as a deposit-taking microfinance institution (DTMFI) in Zimbabwe, […]
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DRIVING in winter requires caution and skill even if you have the advantage of driving a manual vehicle.
As Britain faces the possibility of snow over the next few months, it will pay to know how to tackle the ice and snow safely.
Whether you’re driving an automatic vehicle or a manual, the snow will present its own challenges to drivers on the road.
Drivers are urged to exercise more caution when driving in harsh weather conditions, regardless of your cars transmission.
Some tips are useful to consider whichever type of car you drive.
This includes cornering with care and being light on the accelerator and brakes where possible.
And be warned, your insurance might not cover accidents if your provider thinks you have driven irresponsibly.
Driving a manual car does have some advantages over an automatic vehicle when there’s snow on the roads.
One of the great advantages of a manual transmission is that drivers will have more control over the gears.
If you’re in an automatic vehicle, you’re at the mercy of your brakes when slowing or stopping in wet, snowy, or icy conditions.
Automatic brakes can ice up, and can easily skid out of control when braking suddenly.
With a manual vehicle however, you can downshift into second gear to slow down and sometimes avoid the brakes entirely.
Manual drivers have an advantage over their vehicle’s handling and can gain more control over the road, while reducing the chances of skids and slipping accidents.
According to the RAC, manual drivers should set off in second gear and change up as soon as they get moving.
Accelerate gently and use low revs to avoid a wheelspin, giving you greater control over the car.
Some cars have winter driving modes for this exact reason, but it’s easy enough to do it by yourself if you follow our advice.
At the beginning, second.
Then when you get going, shifting up is sensible to prevent wheel slips.
Be light on the throttle and don’t try to rush – you’ll be going nowhere.
Always leave plenty of room in front of you when changing gear just in case.
And operate all controls very slowly and carefully.
Avoiding slamming on the brakes is always sensible, but particularly in winter when there’s less grip.
And always, always corner slowly and carefully, leaving double your usual distance from the car ahead to increase your braking distance.
Autotrader advises drivers to remember the Ten Times rule and drive more cautiously in cold weather.
The rule gets its name from the fact that ice can increase stopping distances by up to ten times.
This means it will take far longer to bring your motor to come to a halt than it would in less wintry conditions at the same speed.
According to the RAC, the average stopping distance for a family car on a dry road at 30mph is 75 feet, while at 70mph it’s 315 feet.
By the Ten Times rule, this could increase to 750 feet and 3150 feet respectively.
That means it could take up to half a mile for your car to come to a stop from 70mph.
To help you feel more confident as a car owner, here are ten things you should be familiar with about your vehicle:
Simply put, when you’re going downhill.
That’s because braking in a low gear is always quicker – so when the risk of an accident is heightened, a few extra yards could make a huge difference.
But make sure you don’t jolt between gears because that can cause the car to lurch.
Other winter driving tips we’ve recommended include cleaning your windscreen carefully.
This will potentially save you a small fortune in fines, too.
CHRISTMAS is the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also prime season for sickness.
With all the festivities, big family gatherings, and shared food, it’s easy to fall into habits that can spread germs.
Flu season is already in full swing, with one in four adults testing positive for the bug last week.
Health chiefs are now pleading with eligible Brits to get vaccinated immediately to avoid getting sick over the Christmas period.
While the flu vaccine offers protection, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll stay flu-free.
So how exactly do you avoid catching the germs from your uncle, who’s coughing and sneezing all over the Monopoly board?
“I certainly wouldn’t advocate isolating and not joining in on the festivities,” Benenden Health’s Matron, Dr Cheryl Lythgo, says.
“But I would recommend that you do all you can to keep yourself and your family healthy, most especially staying away from vulnerable individuals if you show symptoms of the flu.”
Dr Cheryl Lythgo has shared some easy tips to help you adjust your holiday traditions and keep those bugs at bay.
Is your family a fan of the picky charcuterie boards?
While they’re a hit for grazing, Dr Cheryl advises rethinking those communal platters.
“Rather than offering lots of sharing platters or doing ‘tear and share’ foods, try encouraging individual platters,” she says.
By limiting the sharing of finger foods, you can reduce viral spread through cross-contamination – when a bug is transferred from one substance or object to another.
It’s a small change (and perhaps a big sacrifice for cheese lovers) that could make a big difference in keeping everyone healthier.
Instead of organising all gatherings inside like squeezing around the dinner table, how about meeting up for a lovely walk to catch up?
Not only will this help move some of that Christmas dinner through your bowels, but it will also limit the spread of infection.
Dr Cheryl says fresh air and social distancing can do wonders for everyone’s health during flu season.
Isabel Shaw, health reporter, put nine well-known cold and flu remedies to the test when she was struck down with the lurgy.
Over a week, she tested products that targeted all symptoms associated with cold and flu, as well as treatments that only aimed to get rid of specific issues.
These included:
She took into account pain reduction, and how quickly and for how long they worked.
Read her full verdicts here.
Christmas is the perfect time to play family games.
But many encourage very close contact and the passing of game pieces between players sometimes unwashed hands.
If a competitive game of Monopoly is a must, the expert recommends keeping a bottle of antibacterial gel close by.
“Make sure to wash your hands pre-and post-game, and for any sneezes and coughs in between.”
This small habit will help you play without the worry of spreading germs.
