Driving in snow and icy conditions

With a new bout of cold weather heading for many parts of the UK and potentially bringing with it more ice and snow, it is essential to be well prepared when travelling even short distances.  Here are some common recommendations to make sure you don't get caught out:

Food/Drink: Keep a little food, water and maybe a hot drink with you in case you become stuck for any length of time.

Clothing: Warm clothing is an obvious must. A hat, gloves, boots, coat and even a blanket may come in useful.

Tyres: Make sure your tires are correctly inflated and have plenty of tread left.

Fuel: Keep your fuel levels up so if you get caught out you can keep the engine running and stay warm.

Battery: Make sure your battery is well charged.  Batteries charge most during long journeys so if you make lots of small trips then this may be an issue.

Screenwash: Keep your screen wash topped up.  This will need to be mixed using the correct amount of washer-fluid/water to prevent it freezing.

Phone: Don't forget to take a fully charged mobile phone with you.

Driving in snow/ice:

Watch your speed - especially on corners.  It sounds obvious but speed is one of the main contributory factors surrounding most accidents in snow and icy conditions.  Keep your engine revs low and change up into higher gears as soon as possible.  Higher gears produce less torque, so it is less likely that you will spin the wheels.  You may even want to start off in 2nd gear in some situations, such as hill starts or particularly slippery conditions.  Make sure you plan your journey well before you leave - try to stick to main roads as these are more likely to be clear of snow and should be well gritted.  Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, perhaps 3 times the distance you would in clear weather.

Finally, it is essential to have adequate breakdown cover, as cars are more vulnerable to faults in bad conditions.  Should you breakdown, you can use something brightly coloured to make your car as visible as possible to other road users.  If you can keep your engine running it may provide some warmth. However, make sure the exhaust is not covered by snow to avoid dangerous carbon monoxide entering the car and only run the engine intermittently.

Source: http://www.compare-uk-breakdowncover.co.uk