The first snow of winter has hit the country and temperatures have plummeted.
Driving in fog, trudging through snow or battling icy roads can be scary, but unfortunately in the winter months, it's a reality for many of us.
The good news is that it's possible to drive safely in these difficult conditions, provided you take the correct precautions. Here's how our experts suggest preparing your car to stay safe this winter.
Look after your car
The first step is to make sure your car is in the best possible shape for driving in winter weather conditions.
Many garages offer a free or inexpensive winter check where they will look at the battery, lights, fluids and tyres. If you're interested in this, give your garage a ring to see if they are still offering this service.
Check your tyres
The tyres are the most important thing to check. The legal minimum tyre tread is 1.6mm, but for optimum safety look for replacements if the depth is below 3mm.
Whether you have all-season or winter tyres, experts recommend that the tread depth shouldn't be less than 4mm. Tyres also change even when not being used, so they should be changed every six years.
Winter tyres can be a good choice as they improve safety in all types of weather – snow, ice, rain and cold. However, it does involve paying for a spare pair of tyres and you'll need to arrange storage for your regular tyres.
Driving in snow
Snow socks and snow chains are other options, but they should only be used on snowy or icy roads and should be removed once a cleared road is reached – and snow chains, in particular, can be cumbersome to fit and remove.
Halfords has a useful online tool where you input your car registration and it comes up with suitable chains/socks for your vehicle and prices.
Be prepared
Always drive smoothly in icy conditions and avoid sudden braking or acceleration. Stick to main roads that are more likely to be cleared or gritted.
Join a breakdown service and always keep an emergency kit in the car – this should include a warm coat, boots, a high visibility jacket, some food and water, a de-icer and scraper, a torch, a spade and a mobile phone with a well-charged battery and your breakdown provider's emergency number.
What to keep in the car
The AA recommends that you hold onto some essentials in your car all year, like an in-car phone charger, satnav or printed route map, and a first aid kit. In the winter, you should also make sure you have the following:
- A blanket, rug or sleeping bag.
- A shovel.
- An ice scraper and de-icer.
- A torch - and spare batteries for it.
- Some snacks.
- Spare screen wash.
Car safety buys
