9 Essential Winter Driving Safety Tips | The AA

During the winter season your car may take a little longer to get started in the morning – so plan ahead and get up at least 10 minutes early to give you time to prepare the car.

Far too often we all encounter motorists driving around during the winter season with only a small gap cleared in their windscreen – don’t be one of these people. Only begin your commute when the windscreen is fully clear, using a scraper and de-icer if necessary.

Most importantly, remember to prioritise your own safety and that of other road users ahead of punctuality in the months ahead – especially if the weather worsens.

During the coming months allow extra time for any journey you are taking, particularly those either early in the morning or late at night, but also accept that you may find yourself running late on a few occasions due to an unexpected delay on the roads.

Never drive in a reckless manner or without adequately clearing your windscreen, windows and mirrors just for the sake of starting your journey a few minutes earlier.

Over the next few weeks and months we’re likely to encounter snow, high winds, heavy rainfall and every kind of weather condition in between. The best advice is to slow down and use gentle manoeuvres when driving to stay safe and to adapt your driving to the weather on the day. For example, stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice and snow.

If you find yourself driving on snowy or icy roads, then remember to use a low gear when driving uphill and leave plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you. If driving down a slope then reduce your speed before you reach the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid any sudden braking.

No, this isn’t about making sure you’re warm in your car, but about making sure that you have the right footwear for driving. During the course of your day, the shoes you wore to work could become wet from rain or snow, potentially increasing the risk that they could slip off the pedals of your car. Having a pair of flat shoes which you keep in your car and only use for driving could also go a long way towards staying safe on the roads.

While the number of pedestrians and cyclists may drop slightly during the winter months, especially if weather conditions worsen significantly, it’s important that you remain on the lookout for these vulnerable road users while driving and allow extra space when overtaking. For example, during high winds a cyclist of pedestrian could easily be blown off course so exercising additional caution is vital.

Similarly, you are more likely to encounter a broken down car during the course of your driving over the coming months. While there are some things you can do to avoid your own car breaking down, if the road ahead is partially blocked by a breakdown slow down, only overtake when it is safe to do so, and use your hazard warning lights to alert cars behind you to the obstruction.

Worried about a breakdown this winter? Check out AA Membership online.