Winter Driving Guide

Yet again snow-covered and icy roads have presented UK motorists with hazardous driving conditions. In such conditions drivers are advised to stay off the road and avoid any unnecessary journeys. However, if journeys are unavoidable, there are a few golden rules to remember:

Keeping your car on the road in cold weather.

• Check the traffic news and weather forecast before you travel


• Add antifreeze to the radiator and windscreen washer tank


• Make sure your battery is fully charged


• Monitor oil, water and break fluid levels carefully


• Keep your car well maintained and serviced


• Tyres should be at the correct pressure and have plenty of tread. The current legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm


• Clean your windscreen , windows, mirrors and lights to ensure good visibility


• De-ice all windows thoroughly before driving


• Use headlights in rain and snow


• Replace worn windscreen wiper blades


• Take note of adverse weather conditions (ice, rain, surface water). Do not drive too close to the vehicle in front of you. Always brake early and carefully.


• Keep an emergency pack in your car. This should ideally contain de-icer, ice scraper, torch, blanket, warm clothes, food and drink, first aid kit, spade, boots and battery jump leads


• Take your mobile phone with you on all journeys. Make sure it is fully charged and do not use while driving.

Although good car maintenance and regular servicing should be a 'given' at this time of year, even the most sensible and prepared motorists are taken unawares when the temperatures fall and conditions get treacherous. Even if your car is in good condition make sure you have breakdown insurance so you can avoid the nightmare of being stranded on the roadside waiting for assistance.

Types of Breakdown Insurance
Breakdown insurance can either cover your car or you as a person. If you choose to cover yourself you are covered for call out when you break down if you are the driver or passenger in any car, not just your own. There are a number of different breakdown insurance options.

1. Roadside Rescue: If you break down, this type of policy will quickly get you moving again or towed to the nearest garage within a specified radius. If the car can be fixed at the roadside you should receive guaranteed minutes (up to 60) of free labour to repair minor mechanical or electrical faults. All you are likely to pay for are the parts. Your vehicle will be recovered to the nearest garage if it cannot be repaired at the roadside.
Incidents at your home or within specified radius of your home would not be covered and only the specified car in the policy would be covered.

2. Roadside Rescue and Home Rescue: This should provide the same level as cover as roadside rescue but will also extend the cover if your car breaks down at home or within a quarter of a mile of your home. If the vehicle cannot be fixed, it will be towed to your local garage.

3. Roadside Rescue and Recovery Plus: This policy should provide all the benefits of Roadside Rescue and Home Rescue to cover your car at your home address, plus a choice of either:

• A hire car to return home or continue your journey.


• The cost of alternative transport to enable you to complete your original journey or trip home.


• Accommodation in a local hotel while awaiting completion of repairs, providing the incident occurs more than a certain number of miles away from your home.

4. European Rescue: If you drive on the continent it is worth considering a European breakdown policy. Some insurers provide this free of charge with their car insurance policy, so check the small print. Some of the benefits of cover include:

• Roadside breakdown assistance


• The cost of travelling home if your car is stolen


• The return of your vehicle if it cannot be driven


• Legal cover and payment for delivery of replacement parts if they're not available locally

Avoid leaving your vehicle unattended
On a cold and frosty morning drivers are urged to resist the temptation to leave the key in the ignition while the car defrosts and warms up. Motorists must, however, be on guard so as not to fall victim to opportunistic thieves who take advantage and drive off in unattended vehicles. Most car insurance policies contain a clause relating to "keys in car" or "vehicle left unattended", which make claims under these circumstances void.

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