Hands up who gets nervous about driving in winter weather? If so, you’re not alone!

Battling elements like snow and ice are one thing when it’s just you to get from A to B, but quite another when you’ve got one or more little people in tow.

winter weather

Instead of grinding to a halt, cancelling plans and staying indoors as soon as the roads freeze over and snow starts falling, a few simple precautions can help you to conquer winter driving this season.

If you get nervous about driving in winter weather like me, in this collaborative post here are 5 top tips for driving in winter weather.

5 top tips for driving in winter weather

1. Ice ice baby

Keep a bottle of de-icer and a good quality scraper stocked up in your glove compartment at all times. Don’t be tempted to use hot water from the kettle, as this can cause lasting damage to the glass. Simply cover the windscreen thoroughly, wait for it to take effect and use long strokes with your scraper to clear your view. Once inside the car, use the heaters to clear your interior vision too.

winter weather

2. Use a windscreen cover

One tactic for preventing windscreen freeze is to use a windscreen cover that would typically be used to keep the car cool in the summer. If you don’t have one, a large sheet of fabric or cardboard would also work in a pinch.

winter weather

3. Take your time

If you usually set off for work at 8am, try and be ready to go at 7.30 if adverse conditions are forecast (easier said than done with kids in tow, I know!) Also, take your time on the road itself too, as icy roads mean longer stopping times, particularly if you’re using regular tyres that won’t grip as effectively. Remember your braking distance can increase by as much as 10 times when there is ice on the road, so take it slowly. You could also consider hiring a larger vehicle or van during adverse weather conditions to help make you feel safer on the road. Hiring a vehicle isn’t always as expensive as you think and you can compare van insurance online to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

winter weather

4. Start in second gear

If you find yourself stuck in the snow, don’t put your car in first gear and floor it – this will just make the wheels spin and bed you deeper into the snow. Instead, pull away in second gear and keep your revs soft and gentle. Once again, it’s all about slow and steady driving.

winter weather

5. Consider replacing your car battery

In the winter months, when we crank the heating up and need to use our lights and wipers more often, car batteries can suffer. If your battery is five years old or older, consider getting it replaced – and this is particularly relevant if you’ve recently bought a used car. However, even if your battery is in good shape, make sure you take things slow, starting your car gradually and turning off everything with an unnecessarily large electrical load.

winter weather

Do you get nervous about driving in winter? If you have any top tips I’d love to know what they are!

This is a collaborative post.

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5 easy ways to cut the cost of car insurance

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