'Keep safe on the roads' says police chief

Inspector David Anderson said: “Generally the main roads are gritted but care still needs to be taken but many of the side roads are dangerous and my advice would be for people to slow down and pay heed to the conditions.

“I would appeal to drivers to take care in the inclement conditions. People should give themselves more time to make journeys and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

“They should also ensure they can see out of frosted windows before setting off and make sure water levels are topped up as windows can get very dirty at this time of the year,” he said.

Meanwhile, lower winter sun and dirty windscreens mean there is more risk of dangerous dazzle at this time of year than any other, says the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists).

Peter Rodger, IAM Chief Examiner, said: “Dirty windscreens make it even more difficult for drivers to see in the low sun we get every morning and late afternoon in the winter months. Your heater is often on demist, blowing traffic fumes, suspended oil and smoke onto the inside of the screen which quickly builds to a film of grime which is a major cause of glare.

“The wet roads mean more dirt on the other side of the screen, too, and a low sun highlights scratches and grime making it even more of a problem,” added Mr Rodger.

“The best solution is to clean your screen inside and out, with water or glass cleaner at least once a week, drying with paper or leather.”

More low sun advice from the IAM:

* Always keep a good pair of sunglasses in the car – they really help.

* If you can’t see, do the obvious thing and slow down accordingly, keeping an eye on the vehicle behind, in case the following traffic doesn’t see you against the sun.

* If the sun is behind you, it’s in the eyes of drivers coming towards you – be aware they might not see you.

* Low sun behind can dazzle you through your mirrors so be ready to dip the mirror and check over your shoulder for vehicles in your blind spot.

* Keep your washer bottles topped up with a good quality screenwash.

* Change your windscreen wipers every year.

VOLUNTEERS and friends of a new children's charity called 'vision4kids' which is based in Ballymoney will be holding a Bed Push on 23rd January from 9am to 5pm in the town to raise funds for and support a Winter Christian Bible Camp in Poland, run by another Northern Ireland Charity called Hope for Youth Ministries.

This winter camp aims to host 100 children aged 8-13 years who are very poor, mainly from Polish Orphanages and show them a little Christian love, the camp will not only accommodate and feed the children, but involve them in a host of activities incADVERTISEMENTluding skiing, crafts, sports, games, bible stories, worksheets, singing and horse trekking.

Poland has over 200 orphanages full of children for all sorts of reasons who have next to nothing but the necessities to remain alive and we want to show them the love of Christ in a practical way by bringing them to a Christian bible camp completely free of charge.

The children will be accommodated in a large Baptist Church and looked after by vetted adults for children's work to ensure their safety. It will take approximately 50 to bring each child to this camp (1 of 3 planned for early 2010) and all funds raised will go directly to this needy work with all expenses being paid by those travelling themselves.

The organisers are pleading for help in reaching out to these little children by giving a little as you see them on the roads on Jan 23rd and keep this needy work in their mind and prayers..(if you would like to sponsor a child directly, you can do so by contacting Colin Tinsley of (www.hopeforyouthministries.org)