Weather

The AA's general advice for driving in snow or ice is as follows:

Stopping distances are ten times longer if roads are icy or covered in snow.

Gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving in tricky conditions. Use all the car's controls - accelerator, brakes, clutch and steering - as gently and progressively as possible.

Select second gear when pulling away, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.

You don't want to be stranded

Try to maintain a constant speed, choosing the most suitable gear in advance to avoid having to change down while climbing a hill. When driving downhill, choose third or fourth gear to prevent skidding.

Wear comfortable, dry shoes: cumbersome, wet boots will slip on the pedals.

Carry an ice-scraper, de-icer, food, hot flask, blanket and a warning triangle in the car.

If you do get stuck in snow, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels. Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip. Once on the move again, try not to stop until you reach firmer ground.

If it snows clear the snow from the roof as well as from windows. Snow piled up on the roof can fall onto the windscreen obscuring your view and can also be a hazard to other road users.

You could be fined up to £2,500 and receive three penalty points if the police consider your car a danger to other road users.

Keep to main roads as they are more likely to be gritted and will be patrolled by police.

Never let other speeding drivers lull you into a false sense of security.

Only drive as fast as conditions allow.

If local conditions are particularly bad, be prepared to wait a little longer for assistance from the breakdown organisations, as cases have to be prioritised.

Don't leave things to chance

How to protect your car against the big freeze this winter.

Engine/cooling system - Check antifreeze levels.  A 50/50 mix of antifreeze to water will protect the engine down to –34C.

Handbrake - Check for damage to handbrake cable covering.  Cables should be changed if water has penetrated.

Washers and wipers - A 50/50 mix of additive to water is needed in very cold weather. Switch wipers off when parked in frost.  If ice forms on the wipers, doing so prevents damaging blades or overheating the wiper motor when the car is started.

Locks - Oil door and boot locks and spray with water repellent to prevent freezing.  Similarly for bonnet and fuel cap.

Diesel - Can become waxy and unusable below –15C.  Some additives can lower this temperature.  If possible, garage your vehicle in extreme cold.

General - Check oil level, battery, lights, and tyre tread and pressures