Tips for driving in the winter

You should always drive safely according to the weather conditions, regardless of whether the road has been gritted or not.

Preparing your vehicle

Clear the windscreen and all windows of frost and ice.
Don’t set off until the heater has demisted all the inside glass.
Carry a de-icer spray in the vehicle. Stop (in a safe place) and use it if necessary.
Add low temperature screen wash to the water bottle.
Check that all lights and indicators are working and clean.
Make sure all the tyres have a good tread depth (the legal minimum is 1.6mm) and are at the correct pressure. Don’t forget to check the spare tyre.
Check that the battery is in good condition, as most winter breakdowns are electrical.

Give yourself time to prepare your vehicle before setting off.
Set off earlier to allow for slower speeds, possible hold-ups due to accidents and possible single lane traffic on dual carriageways due to snow.
Keep a longer gap than usual to the vehicle in front, especially when there is ice or snow on the roads.
Brake and accelerate more gently on wet, snowy or icy surfaces.
Use your dipped headlights in mist, fog, falling snow or heavy rain.
Use your rear fog-lights in fog, mist or falling snow and turn them off as soon as conditions allow. You must not use your rear fog-lights in rain.
Driving in adverse conditions can be extremely tiring, so be prepared to take extra breaks during your journey.
Ensure you have ‘outside’ clothing with you in case you have to get out of your vehicle.
Watch out for vulnerable road users- you share responsibility for their safety.