How to prepare your car for the winter

The onset of winter can be bad news for motorists. Little light, bad weather and worse roads conspire to make driving tiring, unpleasant, and sometimes even dangerous.

Below we provide you a checklist from the RMIF to prepare yourself and your car for the onset of the cold weather:

Before setting off:

• make sure that the car is warmed up, and has enough fuel.

• let someone know your intended movements.

• listen to traffic news and weather forecasts, and wear warm clothing.

• check your levels of anti-freeze as old or insufficient levels of anti-freeze can fail, leading to overheating. Anti-freeze should be changed every two years, or according to manufacturer recommendations.’

Other things to do include:

• make sure battery is in good condition.

• on cold mornings use a de-icer on windows, or a scraper – NEVER use hot water.

• check that the screen wash is not clogged and that the bottle is topped up for use, and make sure that an additive is used to stop it freezing.

• check windscreen wipers for wear and replace them if necessary.

• make sure that all heaters and ventilation systems are working so that misting is minimised.

• give all external lights and mirrors a thorough once-over.

• headlamps should be correctly aligned.

• tyre tread depth should be at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference, and there should be no cuts or cracks.

• spray damp inhibitor into the door locks to prevent seizing up.

Useful supplies could include:

• torch, spare batteries and bulbs

• screen scraper / de-icer

• jump leads

• warning triangle

• first-aid kit

• ‘hands free’ mobile phone / phone card / cash

• blankets and warm jacket / robust shoes (in case of breakdown)

• shovel (to clear snow if necessary)

• fire extinguisher

• rope (for towing if necessary)

• road atlas, maps etc

Before setting off, ensure light settings match the driving conditions. Inappropriate use of front and rear fog lights is an offence as they can dazzle other road users.

Winter driving means steady driving. Stopping distances double in the rain, and when roads are icy they can increase ten times. You should maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front at all times, but especially in the winter.

Apart from checking your speed, consider the way you handle steering, gears, clutch, and accelerator - all should all be used more gently than at other times of year.

The RMIF recommends a service at an RMIF-endorsed garage prior to the winter. To find a garage that is a member of the RMIF, visit www.rmif.co.uk and use the ‘Find a Service’ function.

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