We previously posted a blog full of top advice on how to prepare your car for winter driving. That was the easy bit – but how do you cope with driving when the temperatures plummet and the roads are covered in snow and ice?
If you had to guess whether the roads are safest in the summer or the winter, which would you go for? It’s a no-brainer isn’t it? In the winter there’s the spectre of sub-zero temperatures to contend with, as well as fog and darkness. So if you find the idea of summer driving nerve-wracking, you’ll probably be freaked out by the notion of getting behind the wheel when things get icy. But while driving is more hazardous in the winter than the summer, if you’re properly prepared there’s nothing to be afraid of.
The key thing to remember when it gets really cold is that you can’t afford to be lulled into a false sense of security. Even when things look safe, they may not be, so always drive carefully. When the temperatures fall, road surfaces are often wet and/or covered in frost, ice or snow – but not necessarily uniformly. Here’s how to deal with it:

• Set the heater too high and there’s a good chance you’ll feel drowsy on a long journey, so make sure your vehicle is well ventilated and don’t let things get too warm. Keep the air-con switched on at all times, to stop the windows from misting up.
• Wear comfortable shoes with plenty of grip (always a good idea anyway). Low-grip shoes are likely to slip on the pedals, especially once they’re wet or covered in snow.
• If you’re driving in snow, stop occasionally to clear the windows and lights. Make sure your headlights are on at all times, as visibility will be reduced and you want to make sure other road users see you.
• Because you’ve got less grip than usual your stopping distance can be up to 10 times longer, which is why it’s key that you maintain a safe space all around. That means keeping your distance from any vehicles in front because you may not be able to stop in a hurry.
• Those reduced grip levels also mean you need to ensure any manoeuvres you make are gentle. That means braking, accelerating and cornering should all be done more gradually than usual.
• Avoid minor roads where possible because they’re less likely to have been gritted. Even if a road appears to be free of ice there’s a good chance that some is lurking, especially in areas shaded by trees or buildings. Once you’ve hit it, if you need to slow quickly it’ll be too late.
• When pulling away it can be worth selecting second gear instead of first. You’ll have to be very steady on the clutch but you’re more likely to avoid wheelspin by starting off in second.
• If you have to negotiate a hill, try to make sure your path is clear before you start on the incline. If you have to stop on the hill, the chances are you won’t get going again unless you’ve got four-wheel drive, winter tyres or chains.
• As soon as you know there’s a hill coming up, cut your speed and select a low gear to keep your speed to a minimum as you descend. Once you start going downhill you may be reliant on your engine and gears to maintain your low speed; the brakes may be of very little use in slippery conditions.
• It’s when going downhill that you really need to maintain as big a gap as possible between yourself and any vehicles in front. That doesn’t change if your car has four-wheel drive; the benefits of this are for getting going, not stopping any more quickly.
• If you do have to shed any speed always apply the brakes gently. Most modern cars have anti-lock brakes and it’s fine to rely on these to help retain control – but they don’t reduce stopping distances. They only prevent your wheels from locking up so you can retain steering control.
• If you have an automatic, under normal driving conditions select ‘Drive’ and let the gearbox do the work throughout the full gear range. In slippery, snowy conditions select ‘2’, which limits the gear changes and makes you less reliant on the brakes. Many modern autos have a ‘Winter’ mode which locks out first gear to reduce the risk of wheelspin. Check the handbook if you’re not sure.
• If you do get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels. Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip. Once on the move again, try not to stop until you reach firmer ground.

If you have to drive when there’s a danger of snow or ice along your route, listen to weather forecasts and travel bulletins and if conditions deteriorate while you’re en route, be prepared to change your plans.
And by the way, our roads are actually safer in the winter, in terms of the number of accidents that occur. Drivers take more care and when the conditions get really bad, many just stay at home to avoid taking risks altogether. However, while the accident rate may drop, driving conditions are more hazardous when the temperatures plummet, so consider how essential that journey is that you think you need to make. It may well be that you don’t really need to make it at all.
Richard Dredge