Driving in the Snow

Over the past few years our winters have been wet rather than Arctic, but every time we get heavy snow there are tales of drivers stranded for hours on the motorways, or who get involved in crashes because they are unprepared for the winter conditions. Driving in fog, snow or ice is not part of the driving test, so as a driver it’s your responsibility to make sure you are properly prepared and know how to react if you are caught in a sudden snowfall.

Be Prepared

Weather forecasts are far more accurate now than they were even five years ago, so if you switch on the evening news to see snow is forecast, take the warnings seriously. If the expected snowfall is severe enough for police to warn against travel, try to delay your journey, arrange to work from home or leave much earlier than planned. It’s always much better to avoid getting stuck in the snow in the first place rather than worry about how to adjust your driving. If you do have to drive regularly in winter months keep an “emergency kit” in the boot of your car. Put a blanket or heavy coat, torch, bottle of water, hat, gloves, and some high energy snacks like chocolate or energy bars in a holdall in the boot of your car as soon as the weather starts to turn cold.

Check Your Car

If you're one of the many drivers who never checks things like how much antifreeze or windscreen wash fluid you have in the car, you could all too easily run out during a period of freezing weather. Top up fluids regularly, and buy antifreeze to add to the stop your engine block from freezing. Check your tyres have not worn down too far; the legal minimum is 2mm, but tread depths of more than 3mm are better for driving through the winter. If you live at high altitudes or in areas which get a lot of snow, it might be worth thinking about investing in a special set of winter tyres which will give more grip on slippery roads. Snow chains are widely used on the Continent, but aren't necessary for the majority of British drivers, however severe the weather.

If you're windows keep steaming up, we've got a guide on that too.

Easy Does It

If you're already out on the road when the snow starts, the key thing to remember is always to take things easy. All too often drivers panic, and slam on the brakes which results in a skid or the car hitting the one in front. Accelerate very gently, brake equally gently and leave lots of space between you and the car in front. Slow right down and don't even try to overtake or change lanes. Follow instructions from the Police given through the overhead signs on motorways or the digital signs beside other major routes. If you think things are too dangerous to proceed, get your car onto the hard shoulder or into a layby, and call for help.

Dealing With Ice

Seriously heavy snowfall which closes motorways and causes massive disruption is a fairly rare occurrence. Ice, however, affects most parts of the UK many times over the course of a winter. Councils do their best to get gritting lorries out onto all major routes, but it is also the responsibility of drivers to think about icy conditions and drive accordingly. Many of the same rules about gentle braking and accelerating apply to ice too. Try to set off in second gear rather than first as this will force the car to move more slowly and will reduce the likelihood of a skid.

Pay particular attention to the road ahead of you as you drive; many drivers are caught out by what looks like a puddle, but actually turns out to be a patch of black ice. Slow down as much as you need to in order to drive safely. If you lack confidence in driving in icy conditions, a session on a specially designed skid pan will give you the practical experience of dealing with a skidding car but in a controlled environment. Expect to pay around £100 for a half day’s tuition, or £175 for a full day. It’s money well spent if you have to drive regularly on icy roads, and probably a lot less than your insurance excess if you have a crash.

If you do have to use a shovel to clear some of the snow then why not look at our guide to get some tips