short distances  ● Listen to travel bulletins and take note of variable message  signs that may provide information about weather, road and  traffic conditions ahead.  231. Drive extremely carefully   when the roads are icy. Avoid sudden  actions as these could cause loss of control. You should  ● drive at a slow speed in as high a gear as possible; accelerate  and brake very gently  ● drive particularly slowly on bends where loss of control is  more likely. Brake progressively on the straight before you  reach a bend. Having slowed down, steer smoothly round  the bend, avoiding sudden actions  ● check your grip on the road surface when there is snow or  ice by choosing a safe place to brake gently. If the steering  feels unresponsive this may indicate ice and your vehicle  losing its grip on the road. When travelling on ice, tyres make  virtually no noise.  232. High-sided vehicles are most affected by windy weather, but  strong gusts can also blow a car, cyclist, motorcyclist or horse rider  off course. This can happen on open stretches of road exposed to  strong crosswinds, or when passing bridges or gaps in hedges.  233. In very windy weather your vehicle may be affected by  turbulence created by large vehicles. Motorcyclists are particularly  affected, so keep well back from them when they are overtaking a  high-sided vehicle.  highwaycodeuk.co.uk 121  4.Windy weather 