How to drive in snow safely

Before setting off, take a few extra steps to ensure you and your car are ready for winter conditions:

• Clear all snow and ice from your roof, windows, mirrors, and lights. This stops it from sliding down and blocking your view.
• Check your tyres. Ensure they have good tread (at least 3mm is best) and are properly inflated. Consider using winter tyres or snow chains in severe weather.
• Top up your windscreen washer fluid (use one which contains antifreeze) and check your coolant levels are correct.
• Keep your fuel tank topped up. You don’t want to run out of fuel if you get stuck.
• Carry a winter car kit with essentials such as:
  o   A shovel
  o   Ice scraper and de-icer
  o   Warm clothes, gloves, and a blanket
  o   A torch and spare batteries
  o   Food, water, and a hot drink in a flask
  o   Sunglasses (for glare from snow)
  o   Jump leads
  o   A high-visibility vest

Most importantly, bring a fully charged mobile phone and the number of your breakdown provider in case you need help.

Emergency tips if you're stranded

If you get stuck in the snow, staying safe is the most important thing. The best place to be is inside your car, as it provides shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to find you. Keep as warm as possible by layering up with any extra clothes and using a blanket if you have one.

If you need to use the heater, run the engine in short bursts – about ten minutes at a time – to conserve fuel. It’s also important to keep a window slightly open for ventilation. Before doing this, check that your exhaust pipe isn’t blocked by snow, as this could cause dangerous carbon monoxide to build up inside the car.

If you have a phone signal, call your breakdown provider or emergency contacts for help. To make yourself more visible to rescuers, turn on your hazard lights and tie something bright, like a scarf or cloth, to your car aerial.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, here are some key tips to help keep you safe:

• Slow down. Everything takes longer in the snow, including stopping and turning. Drive at a steady, reduced speed to give yourself more control.
• Increase your stopping distance by leaving a bigger gap than usual between you and the car in front. It can take you up to ten times longer to stop on ice and snow.
• Use gentle movements and avoid sudden braking, acceleration, or steering. Smooth, steady driving helps keep your tyres from losing their grip on the road.
• Pull away in second gear instead of first to reduce wheel spin (or, if you drive an automatic, put it into ‘winter mode’).
• Stay in a higher gear than usual when driving to keep your revs low.
• Brake gently, as sudden braking can cause skidding. If you need to slow down, do it gradually.
• Be extra cautious on hills. Keep a constant speed going uphill and avoid stopping if possible. When going downhill, slow down before you reach the slope and stay in a low gear.
• Stay visible. Use dipped headlights if it’s snowing heavily, and make sure your car's lights and number plate are clear of snow before setting off.

What to do if your car gets stuck in snow

Even with the best driving techniques, your car might still get stuck. Here’s how to get moving again safely:

1. Don't spin your wheels, as you’ll only dig yourself in deeper. Instead, take your foot off the accelerator and stay calm.
2. Clear the area around the tyres. Use a shovel, your hands, or even your feet to remove snow from in front of and behind the tyres. Check if there’s snow in the exhaust pipe, as this could cause carbon monoxide to build up inside the vehicle.
3. Straighten the wheels. This gives you the best chance of moving forward without losing control.
4. Use traction aids. Place something gritty under the tyres to help them grip. This could be an old mat, sand, salt, twigs and branches, straw, gravel, or anything else you have to hand.
5. Let a little air out of the tyres (if it is safe to do so). If the tyres aren’t getting enough grip, slightly deflating them can help increase surface contact with the snow. Don’t do this if you don’t have a way to reinflate them, like a hand pump, and remember to reinflate them as soon as possible after getting unstuck.
6. Rock the car back and forth. Switch between first gear (or drive) and reverse gear to gently rock the car forward and backward. Each time, try to go a little further until you build enough momentum to break free. Make sure nobody’s stood in front or behind the vehicle as you do this, as snow and traction aids could fly out from under the tyres and hit them.
7. Try low gear and gentle acceleration. Put the car into second gear (or “winter mode” if you have one) and accelerate gently. Avoid revving the engine, as sudden power can cause wheel spin.
8. Know when to call for help. If all else fails, call your breakdown provider for help, and have their number ready before setting off.

How different cars handle in the snow

Different cars behave in different ways when driving in snow.

Most everyday cars are front-wheel drive and tend to do well because the engine’s weight helps the tyres grip the road. Rear-wheel drive cars, however, can struggle as the driving wheels don’t have as much weight on them, making them more likely to spin. If you drive a rear-wheel drive car, be extra careful when accelerating and turning.

Four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles offer the best grip by sending power to all four wheels. This makes them good for snowy roads, but they’re not invincible. Ice can still make them slide, so drive carefully.

If your car is an automatic, check if it has a winter mode. If not, pulling away in second gear can help stop the wheels from spinning.

Electric vehicles (EVs) can also be tricky in snow, as they deliver power quickly, which can cause wheel spin. If your EV has a winter mode, switch it on to help you stay in control.

Whatever you drive, the key to staying safe is to take it slow, steer smoothly, and give yourself plenty of space to stop.

Yes, in certain situations, driving with snow on your car can be against the law.

If your windscreen isn’t fully clear of snow and ice, it’s illegal to drive, as your vision must not be obstructed. You also need to clear your windows, mirrors, lights, and number plate before setting off.

Snow or ice falling from your car while driving can also be dangerous. If it slides onto your windscreen and blocks your view, or if it falls onto another vehicle and causes an accident, you could be prosecuted.

Failing to clear your car properly may affect your car insurance if it leads to an accident. To stay safe, always take the time to properly clear your car before you start your journey.

Icy roads can be even more dangerous than snow. Black ice – thin, transparent ice that’s hard to see – can make roads slippery without warning.

Here’s how to handle it:

• Be extra cautious. If the temperature is near freezing, assume there could be ice, even if you can’t see it.
• Look out for warning signs. Ice is more likely in shaded areas, on bridges, and on roads that haven't been gritted.
• Steer smoothly, as jerky movements can make your car lose grip. Keep your steering and braking gentle.
• If you skid, stay calm and don’t slam on the brakes. Instead, ease off the accelerator and gently steer in the direction you want to go.