Driving in bad weather
Check your vehicle is ready for winter and always carry an emergency kit. Just gather together the items below and pack in the car at the start of the winter season. You never know when you might need them.
Your emergency kit should include:
- Ice scraper and de-icer
- Torch and spare batteries - or a wind-up torch
- Warm clothes and blankets - for you and all passengers
- Boots
- First aid kit
- Jump leads
- A shovel
- Road atlas
- Sunglasses (the glare off snow can be dazzling)
For more information about preparing an emergency kit visit Highways Agency: Be prepared
Regularly servicing, and checking your vehicle is in good running order before setting out, will reduce your chances of breaking down on the road. Is your vehicle ready?
It's worth making these checks regularly - and particularly before a long winter journey:
- Check and replace the anti-freeze in the radiator
- Make sure your lights are clean and check the bulbs
- Make sure your windscreen is clean
- Replace the battery if it's not reliable
- Make sure your tyres are correctly inflated and replace them before the tread has reached the legal minimum.
Before each journey in severe weather
- Clean any snow and ice from all windows, lights and number plates. Make sure you can see clearly and be seen.
- Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged - but don't use while driving.
- Take some food and a warm drink in a flask in case you get stuck. Don't forget to take any personal medication too!
For further information visit Highways Agency: Winter
