Your guide to winter driving

Although twinkling icicles and fluffy snow may look idyllic, the icy weather makes road conditions more treacherous and breakdowns more common which can make winter driving not all that fun.

With that in mind we’ve pulled together some top tips to help you get through the challenging winter driving months.

Wear comfortable shoes
It’s important when you’re driving that your soles can feel the pedals, so that you can adjust the pressure and stay in complete control without slipping. Wear comfortable, dry, well-fitting shoes, or better still, keep a pair in the car to change into when you’ve been trudging through the snow, ice and puddles.

Adjust your stopping distances
According to the road safety charity Brake, stopping distances can double in the wet and increase 10-fold in snow and ice.

Be sure to leave enough room between you and the vehicle in front so that you can brake gently if needed, rather than slamming on and risking a skid.

Pull away in second gear
When pulling out of a space, use second gear to make sure you have a grip of the road and ease your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.

Tackle hills at a constant speed
You could be tempted to tackle steep hills in stages; stopping and starting as you progress up or downwards. Instead, leave plenty of room (ideally waiting until there are no cars in front that could slide back down), and go at a constant speed, in the same low gear until you reach the top or bottom.

Pack an emergency kit
You may be well-prepared for breaking down, but that’s not to say you won’t encounter a lorry jack-knifing or a collision blocking the motorway. Keep an emergency kit in your car just in case, including…

• A fully charged mobile phone
• An in-car phone charger or power pack
• A first aid kit
• A road atlas or a print-out of the route in case your GPS signal is lost
• The membership card for your breakdown cover
• Medication – particularly if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma, or an illness that may need treating within 24 hours

Now you know how to conquer winter driving why not take a look at our winter car checks just to make sure your car is ready to go on all those long journey’s your bound to be heading on this winter.

Are you the designated driver this Christmas season? Here’s how to stay behind the wheel and not behind bars this Christmas.