Stay safe on the roads in frosty and icy conditions

The Christmas holidays are over for most of us and we will be venturing back on to the roads on Monday morning. The forecast for Sunday night and Monday morning is one of minus 2 to minus 3 degrees centigrade accross most of the country. Here are a few tips on how to drive safetly in frosty, icy conditions. Check weather conditions before driving, ideally do not drive in icy or snowy conditions unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to venture out, take care and allow more time for any trip. At this time of year it is recommended to take the following items with you, de-icer, an ice scraper, torch, jump leads(flat batteries are the No1 call out reason for the AA at this time of year), a small shovel, a blanket, warm clothing and boots. You could even go as far as taking emergency food and a flask with a hot drink in case you break down or get stuck. Ensure you leave extra distance between yourself and the vehicle in front, not just when driving but also when stopped, as this allows space for any error or unusual manoeuvre. If the road is slippery or you are on snow, try moving off in second gear, wheels spin more slowly and you will get better grip. Check your tyres for tread depth - ideally it is recommended to have at least 3mm of tread depth in this cold weather. Also check your tyre pressures, make sure they are correct according to your vehicle requirements. Also consider buying a set of winter tyres these are designed for use in temperatures of below 7 degrees centigrade, at these low temperatures the rubber in summer tyres harden increasing braking distances and giving reduced grip. This is where winter tyres come into their own, they are not just for use in the snow as some people in the UK think. Also should you be considering travelling to Europe for a winter holiday, then in some countries winter tyres are mandatory.