There are many more crashes when the weather is bad, especially when the roads are icy.
When driving in winter conditions:
- Always listen to weather forecasts and don’t make any unnecessary trips if the weather is forecast to be particularly bad.
- Make sure that you clear your windows properly of ice and snow before you start your journey.
- Add anti-freeze to the radiator and additive to the windscreen washer bottles.
- Check your tyre tread depth and pressure.
- Keep your lights clean and your battery fully charged.
- Use dipped headlights in hail, snow and rain.
- Drive slower to take into account the weather conditions.
- Give yourself more time to brake as brakes don’t work as well in icy conditions – it can take ten times longer to stop in icy conditions than on a dry road.
- Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front.
- Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin.
- When braking on ice and snow get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and press gently on the brake.
- If you do end up in a skid, ease off the accelerator but don’t brake suddenly.
- If visibility is reduced by fog use your fog lights – but remember to switch them off when visibility improves.
- Keep sunglasses in the car for the winter sun.
- Keep some warm clothes and a torch in the car.
- If the conditions are very bad – don’t drive.
- Download our winter driving checklist here
Think! – Ice advert
Think! – Rain advert