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Driving advice for motorists who are travelling during the winter

• Check on a regular basis that all your lights, indicators, windscreen wipers and washers are working effectively.
• Ensure that lights, indicators and number plates are kept clean and free from debris. 
• Do not set off on any journey until your front and rear windscreens and side windows and mirrors are clear from snow, frost, ice and other dirt and debris. Ensure that your windows and mirrors are properly de-misted before setting off.
• Use headlights where visibility is seriously reduced, but remember to turn them off again when the light conditions improve.
• Check regularly that tyre pressures are correct for the conditions and circumstances.
• Check regularly to ensure that tyres are free from defects and comply with the legal minimum tread depth for the type of vehicle in use.
• Use front and rear fog lights only if visibility is seriously reduced.  You must switch them off again when visibility improves, otherwise they may dazzle other road users.
• Pedal cyclists should display front (white) and rear (red) lights and a rear red reflector during the hours of darkness.
• Pedal cyclists and pedestrians should wear reflective and fluorescent or bright coloured clothing during the hours of darkness, so that they can be more easily seen by other road users.
• Drive or ride according to the prevailing weather and road conditions.  Drive a lot more slowly in poor weather conditions.
• On wet, icy, snowy or muddy roads accelerate and steer gently rather than harshly.
• Brake gently.
• Never drive too close to the vehicle in front.  A vehicle takes much longer to stop when braking than you think.  Remember the 2 second rule.  Double the gap in wet conditions.  Stopping distances can be 10 times greater in icy conditions.
• In winter, check the weather forecast before embarking on a journey.  Do not drive in really poor weather conditions unless your journey is essential.  Allow more time for journeys in poor weather conditions.
• In poor weather conditions take with you an emergency kit including de-icer, an ice scraper, torch, warm clothing, fluorescent/reflective vest, first aid kit, jump leads and a shovel.  In case you get stuck out on the road, a warm drink and food would also be useful as well.  A mobile phone would also be useful, but these should never be used whilst driving

Further guidance: 

The Highway Code: Driving in adverse weather conditions 

The Highway Code (Online version): This version has been adapted for online use from the Department for Transport's current printed version of the Highway Code. In any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, only the Department for Transport's current printed version of the Code should be relied upon)