Our top 10 winter driving tips – including what to pack in the car and how to react if you skid on snow or ice

With winter not officially due to arrive until next month, drivers can be forgiven for being caught out by the early onset of snow and plummeting temperatures this week.

Following what has been an exceptionally mild autumn, including the second warmest October on record, it is unlikely many motorists have already prepared their cars for the Arctic blast experienced across the country.

With icy temperatures predicted for the coming days and the chilly conditions expected to cause disruption on the roads, now is the time to make sure you and your motor are winter ready.

But what are the absolute essential things every driver needs to know and do ahead of the coldest part of the year? 

To help you get your ducks in a row, here’s our top 10 tips.

It covers everything from simple – but essential – vehicle checks, a list of items you should consider having in the car, and how to cope with winter scenarios, such as getting stuck in snow or skidding on ice. 

1. Consider putting these items in your car

Cost-savvy motorists are always urged to empty their vehicles of any unnecessary weight if they want their cars to be as fuel-efficient as possible.

But the rules can be relaxed for the winter if it means saving you from a predicament at the coldest time of year. 

There are a number of items you really need to consider storing in the boot or back seats in case you encounter any problems, get stuck or your vehicle breaks down.

These include: 

 2. Parts of your vehicle you need to check regularly

– Battery

The most common reason cars breakdown in the months of December to February is battery related. The AA says around a quarter of callouts over winter are for this reason alone.

The reason for this is the far greater strain on your vehicle’s 12-volt battery because you’re more often using the heater, headlights and wipers – as well as other comfort features like the screen demister, heated seats and, if you’re very lucky, heated steering wheel.

While it might seem a little technical if you don’t have much vehicle maintenance experience, there are simple battery checks you can carry out yourself.

Firstly, with a cold engine, check the battery terminals are both tight and clean. And when you start the car, listen out for any sign that it might be struggling to turn over.

Alternatively, a number of autocentres and parts and repair specialists – such as Halfords and KwikFit – offer free battery heath checks.

Usually, a car battery is good for between three to five years depending on how often you drive. If yours is older than that and sounding like it’s labouring on cold starts, it could be time to replace it.

– Tyres 

Tyres are the second most common reason for breakdown callouts in winter – the AA says around one in six.

It is essential that you look for any damage – nails or foreign objects sticking in the tyres – or any cracks, splits or bulges in the rubber, even on the tyre wall.

You should also check tread depth. While the legal minimum level is 1.6mm, breakdown recovery providers recommend in winter to have at least 3mm. 

This is to ensure the tread pattern can optimally shift standing water or light snow away from the tyres so they can grip the road better.

Also, make sure your tyre pressures are correct. 

Continental Tyres tells us that it’s normal for tyres to lose pressure over time as air permeates through the tyre – usually at a rate of around 1-3 psi (pounds per square inch) per month. 

And that’s before the effects of cold weather are taken into account, which sees the air inside the tyre contract and lose 1-2psi for every 10°C drop in the outside temperature.

A seriously under-inflated tyre won’t be stiff enough to handle the forces generated through cornering and makes the vehicle more difficult to control and extend braking distances, especially in difficult conditions.

It will cost you too, with every 4.3 psi pressure loss resulting in an additional 1.5 per cent use of fuel. And an underinflated tyre will wear out faster and puncture more easily.

You can find the recommended ‘psi’ and ‘bar’ in your car’s owner’s manual.  This is sometimes listed on a sticker located inside one of the front door sills.

If you often drive when temperatures are at their lowest, you might also want to consider fitting winter tyres.

These typically operate better than summer tyres below 7 degrees. They also have different tread patterns designed to cope better with less ideal conditions.

All-season tyres are also available, which are a middle ground between the two.

– Antifreeze

Antifreeze is designed to prevent the coolant in the engine’s system from freezing, so it’s a key winter check to carry out.

You can do this yourself. Halfords sells an antifreeze tester, which will tell you the level and strength of coolant.

While you should check your coolant level regularly, it’s recommended that you have the concentration checked by a garage ahead of the cold weather setting in.

– Lights 

With the clocks going back signalling shorter days and rush hour usually taking place in darkness, your car’s lights are critically important at this time of year. Which is why checking they are all working is crucial.

Firstly, do a full walk-round to ensure every light – including hazards, indicators and fog lights are working as they should. Ask a friend or work colleague to check that your brake lights are working when you depress the pedal.

Throughout the coming months, make sure you clean your headlights in particular often. The salt and dirt kicked up by cars in front can build-up quickly and reduce the effectiveness of your beam.

It’s also recommended to carry a spare set of bulbs with you if one blows en route. 

As well as ensuring your lights work as they should, you need to use them correctly, too.

In heavy snow, make sure that you use your dipped beams. Relying on daytime running lights is not enough.

If visibility drops so low that you can’t see an object 100 metres in front of you clearly, turn on the fog lights. And remember to turn these off when the visibility improves.

It’s also worth carrying a pair of sunglasses in the car – it will reduce the glare of low winter sun reflecting off snow if there is any.

– Wiper blades

One often overlooked component that you’re highly reliant on in the winter months is wiper blades, which degrade with time.

Often they can dry out, crack or split – especially in the hotter summer months – which stops them from performing at their optimum level.

That’s why it’s best to make sure they are clearing your entire screen effectively and quietly  – because there’s nothing quite as infuriating as the repeated squeak of a worn-out wiper blade on an arduous journey in the rain.

It’s also worth noting that even a brand-new set of wiper blades can cause you a big problem in the winter if, in freezing conditions, you try to activate them as soon as you start the car. 

The RAC says callouts for blown fuses spike at this time of year because drivers have failed to defrost their windscreens before using the wipers, which are frozen to the glass and not able to move.

– Washer fluid 

The winter months mean there will be far more grime on the roads than during warner parts of the year.

Rain, snow and ice, combined with heavily-salted roads, guarantees your wiper blades and washers are going to be exceptionally busy – and the latter emptied a lot quicker than usual. 

Which is why you need to check the fluid level regularly, especially before long journeys.

3. Ask yourself: Do I really need to drive today?

When the roads are covered in snow, the first thing every motorists needs to ask themselves is this: ‘Is it absolutely necessary to get behind the wheel?’

For those living in busy towns and cities, most major roads will likely be salted and cleared, at least after some time, unless snowfall is extremely heavy.

However, for those in rural and remote parts of the country, you will need to be mindful that not all routes will have been treated, especially first thing in the morning.  

Despite recommendations from motoring and road safety groups to avoid driving if the conditions are particularly bad, almost a fifth of drivers would risk getting behind the wheel when a severe weather warning has been issued.

A survey of 12,000 motorists conducted by the AA late last year found that 33 per cent would refuse to change their driving plans even when issued with a Met Office red weather warning – which signifies there could be risk to life, substantial travel disruption and damage to property and infrastructure. Additionally, three-quarters (62 per cent) said they would not change their plans if there was an amber weather warning.

The best way to avoid an accident or problems in the snow, is not to drive in bad conditions. So, unless your journey is essential, seriously consider not doing so. 

4. Check traffic reports before you depart

If you decide that you’re going to brave the snow in your car, check if there is any disruption on your route using Google Maps or the AA’s Route Planner – or by tuning into your local radio station and the latest travel updates.  

And leave plenty of time to complete your journey with the assumption it will take longer than normal.

5. The quick checks to make before you pull away

Before even considering driving away, there are a number of factors to consider to ensure you will be safe – and legal – when hitting snow-covered roads.

Firstly, have comfortable and dry footwear. 

Completely de-ice and demist the windscreen, windows and all mirrors to ensure you have full visibility all around the vehicle. 

Remove any snow from your roof to prevent it sliding down onto your windscreen and blocking it. Driving with a pile of snow on the car is also dangerous for the cars behind you, as it blows off. Failing to remove snow can land you with a fine of up to £2,500 if police catch you.

As well as clearing snow off the vehicle, make sure the number plates are clearly visible front and back. Having registration plates covered in thick dirt or snow and is no longer readable is also an offence that could see motorists stung with a fine of £1,000.

6. How to use your lights correctly in snow

Granted you’ve cleared the snow from all your lights, make sure you are using them correctly.

In heavy snow, make sure that you use your dipped beams; relying on your car’s daytime running lights is not enough.

If visibility drops so low that you can’t see an object 100 metres in front of you clearly, turn on the fog lights. And remember to turn these off when the visibility improves.

It’s also worth carrying a pair of sunglasses in the car – it will reduce the glare of low winter sun reflecting off the snow.

7. Be light on the pedals

When driving in snowy or icy conditions it is essential that you use both the throttle and brake pedals smoothly.

Try to accelerate as gently as possible at low revs, and consider using a gear higher than you would in the dry. Even when moving away from a standstill, consider using the second gear to reduce the chances of the wheels spinning up.

If you drive a car with an automatic gearbox, feather the throttle on acceleration to keep the engine revs low. 

Most modern cars are now fitted with adaptable driving modes for different conditions and sceanrios. If yours has this feature, check to see if there is a ‘snow’ or ‘off-road’ setting available. If not, use the ‘eco’ mode, which electronically makes acceleration smoother. And if you have selectable all-wheel drive, it goes without saying that this should be selected. 

Always avoid using cruise control in the snow as it will not be able to react to the current conditions. It is always better to be in complete control of your vehicle. 

8. Reduce your speed and leave plenty of room ahead 

When the roads are compromised by winter conditions and temperatures, it is imperative that you drive at a speed that feel comfortable and safe, especially if tarmac has not yet been gritted.

Be aware of wheel tracks in snow left by other vehicles – the compounding of the white stuff could make it more slippery than driving on fresh snow.

Stopping distances when the road is covered in snow and ice will be dramatically extended, so give as much as 10 times the recommended gap to a vehicle up ahead. 

9. Hills and bends: How you should prepare for them

If your planned route is particularly hilly, be ready to adapt your driving for an ascent or descent.

When you’re about to drive up a hill, leave plenty of room in front so you can maintain a constant speed without needing to change gear.

And when coming downhill, choose a low gear to avoid having to use the brakes as much. Again, leave plenty of space to any other vehicles on the road. 

When approaching a bend, make sure you have decelerated before you turn the steering wheel – this means your car’s tyres will only need to deal with a change in direction rather than trying to cope with slowing down at the same time.

You need to be particularly careful if your car is rear-wheel drive, as this will make it much harder to drive in snow or icy conditions. 

10. How to react if your car skids on ice or snow

On snow and ice covered roads that haven’t been gritted or salted, there is a chance you could encounter a skid.

It’s firstly important to try not to panic. 

Steer gently into the skid – for example, if the rear of the car is sliding to the right, steer to the right. 

And do not take your hands off the steering wheel or stamp your foot on the brakes.