Four driving tips to get through the winter safely

Winter is firmly upon us – we’ve gathered our top four driving tips to help you get to the other side safely.

While you might be dreaming of spring blooms or hot summer days, the reality is that winter is officially upon us.

Anyone else fed up of having to put on 200 layers just to leave the house?

We’re becoming very good at the 200m dash from front door to heated car cabin in the morning. In fact, if it was a sport at the Olympics, I reckon I’d get gold. 

Easy.

But with the recent storms and unexpected snowfall fresh in our memories, it’s more important than ever that we all have a little refresh and brush up on our winter driving skills, to make sure we’re keeping ourselves - and other road users - as safe as possible at this cold, bleak, icy time of year.

From prepping your car properly to knowing what to do in different conditions, we’ve got you covered.

1. Prep and check your car

We hate being the bearer of bad news, but it is unfortunately a fact that vehicle breakdowns increase at this time of the year because of the temperature changes and bad weather.

Thankfully, leasing a car does put you a step ahead.

Because a lease car is a brand-new vehicle, it is far less likely to go wrong than something a bit older. Or a lot older.

But you can never be too careful, and putting in some time to check and prep your car for winter, especially ahead of any festive long journeys, could save you money in the longer term.

These checks and preparations can include:

• Making sure your car is serviced at regular intervals
• Checking your battery, tyres, lights and windscreen
• Making sure you’ve prepped a breakdown kit
• Preparing for any long journeys, including checking the weather forecast and your route

If you have an electric car lease, it’s also worth noting down the service stations you might want to recharge at, so that you’ve got a good idea of where you’re going and what you’re doing before you set off.

2. Pack the essentials

The last thing you want in the depths of winter is to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with nothing but the clothes on your back and the vehicle you’re sat in.

Having a bag prepared with essentials stowed away in the boot might feel like overkill, but you’ll be thankful for it should you end up breaking down over the winter months.

Include things like an extra set of clothes, a couple of warm blankets, non-perishable snacks (like granola bars and dried fruit (or more exciting snacks like crisps and your favourite chocolate bar)), bottled water and torches. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of replenishing this kit every few months, to make sure everything is in date and you’ve replaced anything you’ve used.

It's also handy to keep a couple of tools on hand, just in case.

Having a shovel and an ice scraper in the boot might save you in a pinch, while keeping a charged-up portable charger and a couple of cables to hand means you’ll never be without the ability to contact someone in an emergency.

If you’re going abroad over the winter season, it’s also worth checking to make sure you’ve got all the kit on hand to comply with different countries' laws and regulations.

3. Read the road

Although we’ve had some practice already this year, it’s always worth refreshing your skills when it comes to driving on icy roads.

If the road ahead is glittering in your headlights and you’ve got that sinking feeling that things are about to get slippery, then it’s important to remember to accelerate slowly and shift to a higher gear as quickly as possible, using low revs throughout.

Brake progressively on the straight when you’re approaching a corner, before you get to the bend, and avoid any sudden movements that might upset the grip of the tyres.

Make sure to continually check your surroundings so you’re keeping a step ahead.

When driving in icy conditions, it’s also critical to keep around 10 car lengths in between you and the car in front – braking distance is increased, and you want to avoid smashing into the back of anyone.

4. Visibility checks

With the winter weather comes poor visibility.

Unfortunately, they do tend to go hand in hand, like cheese and crackers, or turkey and gravy (no prizes for guessing what’s on our minds).

But poor visibility can be quite dangerous.

Windshields seem to be the main victim of the colder weather, as they start to freeze over when the temperatures drop during the night. You either want to have a good de-icer on hand to clear it before you set off, or use a jug of lukewarm (not boiling!) water and an ice scraper.

Alternatively, sit in your car for a while and absolutely blast the heating, if you’re not a fan of standing around in the bitter cold.

Driving in the winter season is nothing to be afraid of. Take some time to make sure you’re prepped, your car is ready and you know what you’re doing, and you’ll be fine out on our roads this winter.