Winter driving tips

Top winter driving tips for when the UK weather turns cold, wet, snowy and icy!

The UK’s relatively mild climate means most of us rarely experience driving in severe snow, wild winds or slick ice. It means that when bad weather does strike, many of us are unsure what to do but this is where our winter driving guide can help.

We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to driving this winter with top safety tips and advice for handling your car on cold days and dark nights. This guide covers all the basics from dealing with ice and snow on the road to coping in the high winds, rain and floods that are more common in the UK.

We also include more general tips and techniques for driving in extreme weather; how to make the most of your car's ABS braking system, for example, and what to do in understeer or oversteer situations. There's also a section on preparing your car correctly for winter driving.

The winter months pose a whole new set of challenges for UK motorists and our guide is designed as a useful refresher course that will benefit drivers of all experience levels when the weather turns cold.

Preparing your car for winter

The first habit to develop is to ensure that your car is ready for the more extreme weather before you even set off. That means everything from checking the engine coolant to making sure your tyres have the correct (and legal) amount of tread and are running at the right pressure.

But once on the road in wintry weather, the most important thing to do is to slow down so that your speed matches the prevailing road and traffic conditions. It’s an easy solution to most winter driving situations; you just have to make yourself do it.

Finally, create more ‘time and space’ to enable safety to be maintained – drivers only crash when they run out of time or space.

Using ABS brakes correctly

Stringent safety regulations mean anti-lock braking systems (ABS) are a standard feature on most cars these days. But while most people are aware that their model is equipped with the set-up, few know what it does, or how it should be used if they’re in a situation that demands it.

The ABS braking system uses sensors to determine if a wheel is on the verge of locking up during heavy braking. If a wheel tries to lock up, a series of hydraulic valves limits and reduces the braking pressure on the wheel/s to prevent skidding and allow the driver to maintain steering control.

However, ABS shouldn’t be used as an excuse to drive into hazards more quickly, or drive closer to the vehicle in front. Plus, on slippery surfaces, bear in mind that ABS doesn’t work as well – and on sheet ice, nothing will stop you except crashing into the kerbside or another object. Safe speed is the key for winter driving. Braking without ABS In Emergency Braking pedals

Most modern cars are fitted with ABS, but older models – such as those that young drivers may consider as a first car – are unlikely to be equipped with the system.

However, drivers can almost create their own ABS in a car that doesn’t have it fitted. If you find yourself travelling too quickly in wet or slippery conditions and try to stop suddenly, the wheels are likely to lock up and the car could start to skid.

In order to stop without skidding, rhythmically pump your foot up and down on the brake. This will essentially replicate what an ABS system does, albeit nowhere near as effectively. Remember to look where you want the car to go and steer there, and try not to ‘panic freeze’.” ABS: avoiding a collision

ABS braking and steering

ABS is a fantastic aid to driver safety, but only if you know what it does and how to use it in emergencies – which many people don’t. The key benefit of the system is that it allows maximum braking force to be applied, yet the driver can still steer the car to avoid a collision.

However, many people in that situation will often ‘panic freeze’, and continue to look in front of them, steering in a straight line and potentially hitting an obstacle ahead. To stop this from happening, shout ‘brake and steer’. Saying this out loud should help you focus your thought process, giving you time to act appropriately to avoid hitting anything.

Less speed and more smoothness

There are a number of factors that can affect a vehicle’s stability, and these can have a greater impact in poor weather.

From applying too much power to braking too abruptly or steering erratically, all of these things can upset the balance of the car and ultimately lead to unsafe situations. Remember to brake, accelerate, change gear and apply steering angle as smoothly as possible. Set a goal to do this to the point where your actions are so smooth, your passengers can’t tell that you’re changing gear or braking. Smoothness will aid your safety in poor conditions.

The other key factor in keeping safe in bad weather conditions is your speed. In normal dry road conditions, the two-second rule to the car in front still applies, but in wet weather you need to double this, while in icy conditions this should be up to 10 times greater.

Extended separation distances are crucial in poor conditions where the road is slippery and tailgating can be suicidal.

It’s not just grip on the road that can alter things, but visibility can be hugely affected when driving in fog or heavy rain. You see obstacles much later and this impacts on your ability to assess how to respond. Match your speed to visibility: the less you see, the slower you need to drive.