Half of UK motorists are worried about driving in the bad weather, according to Saga, yet at this time of the year it's hard to avoid getting behind the wheel to visit family and friends.
The AA warned that it received a third more claims on one particularly snowy day last week than it usually does, as motorists slid into bends, fences and other cars. Christmas is coming, so the last thing you need is a costly repair bill.
If the weather outside is frightful then it's best to stay off the roads. However, if you must travel, how can you stay as safe as possible?
Before you go
If you're about to set out, how can you prepare your car?
Although you will hopefully never need it, it's worth packing some items in the boot to help you if you do break down.
Keep a torch, first aid kit and battery jump leads ready. You may also want to consider packing warmer clothes and blankets, especially if you're travelling with young children. If you think there might be trouble, pack a warm drink in a flask just in case.
Carry a fully-charged mobile phone with you on all journeys, just in case.
Don't be tempted to set off with partially obscured windows, make sure you clean all the ice away before you go. In difficult driving conditions, you need all the visibility you can get.
Clear snow off the roof of your car to prevent it falling across your windscreen when you start to speed up.
Check or replace the antifreeze in your vehicle's radiator. It's cold outside and you don't want a breakdown.
With the low winter sun, it can be really hard to see through your windscreen at the best of times. Keep your cleaning fluid topped up so that you can keep them as clear as possible.
Make sure your tyres are ready for the difficult conditions. They should be inflated to the manufacturer's recommended level and have at least 3mm of tread depth.
Behind the wheel
What can you do to drive as safely and carefully as possible? Here are a few things to bear in mind when the UK becomes a winter wonderland.
- Be prepared to turn back if the weather deteriorates
Don't be tempted to just push on regardless if the weather gets worse. If you're driving to family for your Christmas dinner, make sure you have the basics at your house so that, if you do turn back, Christmas isn't ruined.
The last thing you need is to be rushing when the roads are bad. Leave plenty of time for your journey and only ever drive as fast as you consider safe.
Even if you can't see frost on the road, be aware of black ice - especially in shady places.
- Know what to do if you skid
Skidding can be frightening even for the most experienced drivers and it's a key factor in many winter accidents.
Apply the accelerator gently and give yourself plenty of time and space to break. Don't slam on your brakes, you could cause yourself to lose control.
If you do start to skid, take your foot off the accelerator and don't slam on the brakes, however tempting it is. Turn your steering wheel into the direction of the skid and then when the vehicle straightens, steer back along the road.
If you do break down
More and more people are taking out breakdown cover to make sure they are never stranded, but that will still involve a wait - possibly by the side of the motorway.
So if disaster does hit and you have to pull onto the hard shoulder, how can you stay safe?
- Pull over as far as you can
- Turn on your parking and your hazard lights
- Ask passengers to leave by left-hand doors only
- Move everyone as far away from the road as possible
- Never try to cross the motorway, even to reach an emergency phone.
Rate This Article
Click on a star to rate this article.
