It’s a well-known fact that you're more likely to break down in bad weather.
There's more risk of delays too be it a breakdown or a jack-knifed lorry. And if you are travelling on a main route you could end up being delayed for several hours whilst the emergency services sort everything out.
So our friends at the AA have come up with some brilliant lists of what we should all be doing as the weather closes in for winter.
Antifreeze
check coolant level regularly and, if required, top-up with a mixture of the correct type of antifreeze. Your garage should check concentration to ensure adequate cold temperature protection.
Battery
the most common cause of winter breakdowns. A battery more than five years old may struggle in the cold - get it checked and replaced if necessary to avoid the inconvenience of an unplanned failure.
Fuel
keep at least a quarter of a tank in case of unexpected delay.
Lights
check and clean all lights regularly to make sure you can see and be seen clearly. Carry spare bulbs.
Tyres
should have at least 3mm of tread for winter motoring. Consider winter tyres for improved safety. Check pressures at least every fortnight.
Windscreen
reduce dazzle from the low sun by keeping the screen clean inside and out. Now is a good time to renew worn wiper blades.
Screen wash
use a 50% mix of a good quality screen wash to reduce the chance of freezing in frosty weather.
Locks and door seals
stop doors freezing shut with a thin coat of polish or Vaseline on rubber door seals. A squirt of water dispersant (WD-40) in locks will help stop them freezing.
But it’s not just the car that needs attention, you and your passengers also need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. As well as the things you should be carrying on every journey regardless of the weather, you should make up a winter emergency kit to keep in the boot – hopefully you won’t need it but you will be very glad it's there if you do.
Year-round essentials
Fully-charged mobile phone and in-car charger
Sunglasses – to deal with glare from the sun or snow
Personal medication
First aid kit
Road atlas – in case of diversions
Sat-nav, road atlas or printed route for unfamiliar journeys
Breakdown cover membership card
Winter emergency kit
Make up an emergency kit containing the following at the start of winter and keep it in the car
Blanket, rug or sleeping bag
Shovel
Ice scraper and de-icer
Torch and batteries
Snacks – chocolate or cereal bars
Extra screen wash
And when really bad weather is forecast..
Warm winter coat, scarf, hat, gloves and warm clothes
Waterproofs
Sturdy footwear
Flask of hot drink
