Lifestyle

Driving in a winter wonderland

Winter motoring requires care and a little special attention if you're to avoid breakdown or accidents.

Here are a few pointers that should reduce the risks of becoming stranded, courtesy of the AA.

Be prepared

Put safety before punctuality during bad weather

Allow ten minutes extra to prepare the car

Clear all windows of snow or ice using a scraper and de-icer

Don't drive off like a tank-commander. Wait until you have good all-round vision

Use water-repellent spray on door locks and then oil them

Use a cigarette lighter to warm a key for a frozen lock. Don't breathe on the lock - it will just freeze

Hand-brake cables can freeze but leaving the hand-brake off can be dangerous. Leave it to thaw or call out a garage

Besides carrying an ice scraper and de-icer, it's worth carrying the following items:

1. Torch
2. First-aid kit
3. Tow rope
4. Blankets
5. Warm coat
6. Boots
7. Jump leads
8. Snow shovel
9. Warning triangle
10. Water-repellent spray

Driving in snow and ice

Stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice and snow, so gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving

Wear comfortable, dry shoes: cumbersome, snow-covered boots will slip on the pedals

Select second gear when pulling away, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin

Try to maintain a constant speed, choosing the most suitable gear in advance to avoid having to change down while climbing a hill

When driving downhill, choose third or fourth gear to prevent skidding

Always apply brakes gently. Release them and de-clutch if the car skids

If you do get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels. Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip. Once on the move again, try not to stop until you reach firmer ground

Driving in floods

Only drive through water if you know how deep it is

Drive slowly and steadily to avoid creating a bow wave, and allow on-coming traffic to pass first

Keep the engine revving by slipping the clutch otherwise water in the exhaust could stall the engine

Test your brakes as soon as you can after driving through water

Don't drive through fast-moving water, such as at a flooded bridge approach - your car could be swept away

If you break down in heavy rain, don't open the bonnet while you wait for help to arrive - the engine will be hard to start if the electrics are rain-soaked

Vision

Through the autumn and winter months, dazzle from low sun can be a problem.

Keep all windows clear - if your vision is obscured through dirt, snow or even sticker-infested car windows you could face a fine of up to £2,500

Check or replace windscreen wipers

Windscreen washer fluid should be topped up and treated with a proprietary additive to reduce the chance of freezing in frosty weather. Don't use ordinary engine anti-freeze

Clear snow from the roof as well as from windows as this can fall onto the windscreen and obscure your view or fall onto the road and hinder other drivers. You could be fined up to £2,500 and receive three penalty points if the police consider your car a danger to other road users

Visibility

You must use headlights when visibility is reduced. You may also use front or rear fog lights but these must be switched off when visibility improves. In wet conditions, fog lights (especially rear ones) can dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights.

Check that all the light bulbs are working and that headlights are clean and aimed correctly

Drivers who blind other road users with their fog lights after the murk has cleared can be fined up to £2,500

Keep the number plates clean - dirty, illegible number plates can land you a fine of up to £1,000