RoSPA’s road safety factsheet: winter driving tips

Driving in the winter is very different than at other times of the year. Adverse weather and longer periods of darkness make driving more hazardous. Sometimes conditions can be extreme, with prolonged periods of snow and floods.  

In very bad conditions avoid driving completely, unless you absolutely have to make the journey and driving is the only option.  

Different weather conditions create different hazards throughout the winter and in different areas of the country at different times. A single journey may take us into very different weather, road and traffic conditions, so we need to be prepared for each one. This means that we need to adapt the way we drive to the conditions. 

Prepare your vehicle  

It’s a good idea to have your vehicle fully serviced before winter starts and have the anti-freeze tested. If you can’t have it serviced, then do your own checks. In particular, check:  

• Lights are clean and working  
• Battery is fully charged  
• Windscreen, wiper blades and other windows are clean and the washer bottle filled with screen wash  
• Tyre condition, tread depth and pressure (of all the tyres, including the spare)  
• Brakes are working well and;  
• Fluids are kept topped up, especially windscreen wash (to the correct concentration to prevent it freezing), anti-freeze and oil.  

It’s also a good idea to stock up on de-icer, windscreen wash, oil and anti-freeze at the start of winter.  

Emergency kit  

When extreme weather is possible, keep an emergency kit in your car, especially if you’re going on a long journey. If this seems unnecessary, take a moment to imagine yourself stranded in your car overnight, due to a snowstorm or floods. How would you stay warm? What would you eat and drink? If you must drive in these conditions, we recommend that you carry:  

• Tow rope  
• A shovel  
• Wellington boots  
• A hazard warning triangle  
• De-icing equipment  
• First aid kit (in good order)  
• A working torch  
• A car blanket  
• Warm clothes  
• Emergency rations (including hot drink in a flask)  
• Mobile phone (fully charged).  

Prepare your journey  

Listen to local or national weather broadcasts and travel bulletins – especially for the areas you will be driving through. As conditions can change rapidly, check them regularly and be prepared to change your plans if conditions on your route worsen.  

If conditions are very bad, and the emergency services are recommending that people don’t travel, then avoid making your journey unless it is absolutely necessary. Can you postpone your trip? Can you travel by other means, or avoid the need for the journey completely by using the phone, video call or email?  

Of course, what’s ‘essential’ to one person may not be to another; we each have to make our own decisions according to our circumstances. But try to be realistic about which journeys are essential and which ones could be postponed. If you decide you really must travel:  

• Let someone know where you are going and what time you hope to arrive, so that they can raise the alarm if you get into difficulties.  
• Plan alternative routes in case your main choice(s) becomes impassable. 

• Keep your fuel tank near to full to ensure that you do not run out. 
• Make sure you have a fully charged mobile phone, so you can call for help or alert someone if you’re delayed. 
• If you don’t have an emergency kit in your vehicle, at least take extra warm clothes, boots and a torch. Consider keeping a couple of long-life energy bars in the glove box.  
• Clear your windows and mirrors completely of snow and ice before you set off (make sure the heater is blowing warm air before setting off – it will keep your windscreen clear).  

Prepare yourself  

Most of us have very little experience of driving in extreme conditions, such as snow, so take some time to consider how it affects your driving. Don’t just drive as normal.  

When was the last time you had any driver assessment or training? This is an ideal time for some refresher training. If your employer provides driver training, take advantage of it. Or you can contact the RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders group in your area.  

To find out which is the nearest to you, go to https://www.rospa.com/road-safety/rospa-advanced-drivers-and-riders. 

Published On: 14/12/2023 15:30:00

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