Winter Driving

Driving in wintery conditions can be extremely dangerous – but there are plenty of tips and tricks to follow to ensure you’re driving safely in the snow and ice. Many have been warned not to travel but many of us will still need to drive in the wintery conditions . 

Winter car essentials  checklist - It’s always best to over-prepare if you’re undertaking a journey in the snow so here is exactly what you should pack in your car to cover all potential scenarios: Major roads will often have grit laid on them to make them safer  

Food and water – or a flask containing a hot drink 

A blanket 

A shovel 

Warm clothes and waterproofs 

Sturdy footwear 

High-vis jacket Ice scraper and de-icer 

First aid kit 

It’s important to make sure your windscreen is completely de-iced before driving  

Mobile phone and charger 

Torch and spare batteries 

Map 

Sunglasses to help with the glare from the snow 

Jump leads 

Square carpet to put under your tyres to give you leverage if you get stuck 

Snow chains 

Empty fuel can

There is plenty of advice out there for what gear is best to use if you drive a manual car during snowy conditions. 

The RAC advise drivers to ‘accelerate gently, use low revs and change up to a higher gear as quickly as possible.’ 

You should also ‘move off in second gear as this will help reduce wheel slip’ but some cars have a winter mode, which does the same job. You should check whether your car has this function in the vehicle’s handbook. 

Those looking for tips on driving an automatic car in the snow are urged to take extra care because unlike manual cars, they don’t have control of what gear they are in. However, some automatic cars will come with a L, 2 or +/- control which allow drivers to change up into a higher or lower gear in the case of snowy road conditions, so using a higher gear could help control your vehicle.