Eight things drivers MUST do to keep cars safe against snow and ice this winter – and avoid a fine of up to £10,000

WINTER can be a dangerous time on British roads, with slippery conditions and dangerous weather making every car journey a bit more risky.

But by preparing your car for the colder months, you can help protect yourself and your passengers from some of the hazards.

And with up to 20 inches of snow expected this weekend, taking care of your car is set to become crucial this winter.

We explain everything you need to know.

Check your tyres 

Your tyres are, arguably, the most important safety device on your car.

When working well, they help prevent skidding and enable you to stop in an accident.

But when they’re not in good condition, your stopping distance can increase and you may find it more difficult to steer.

And in winter, when the roads are slippery, it’s more important than ever to ensure your tyres are in good shape.

For cars, the tread of your tyres - the grooves in the rubber - must be at least 1.6mm deep across three-quarters of the tyre’s width.

If your tyres wear down below this and you keep driving, you could receive a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points - per tyre.

That means that if all your tyres are worn, you could get fined a total of £10,000 and 12 penalty points, which will normally result in disqualification.

Experts recommend changing your tyres before they reach the legal limit though, especially in colder months.

A minimum of 3mm has been proposed, and is the recommended level at which drivers should consider getting new rubber.

Keeping your tyres well inflated is also a top tip for saving money on pricey petrol.

Properly pumped-up tyres can reduce fuel consumption by up to three per cent.

Top up your screen wash

Screen wash is a crucial but often overlooked element of car maintenance. 

And in winter it’s particularly important, as the roads are gritty and covered with mud, which can spray up onto your windscreen and impede your view.

Sometimes, you only find out you’re low on screen wash when it runs out - by which point it’s too late. 

Buy winter screen wash, which will have chemicals in it to prevent it from freezing. 

Your screen wash reservoir will be somewhere under the bonnet, and should be clearly identifiable. 

It normally has a yellow cap with a small icon depicting a windscreen spray, but to be sure, check the first few pages of your car’s manual.

Follow the instructions on the bottle to ensure it’s as effective as possible.

Clean your windows

While you’re at it, take this opportunity to ensure your windows are clean. 

You probably haven’t paid much attention to the windscreen, side windows and rear window of your car, and there’ll be a year’s worth of pollen, dust and autumn grime building up on the glass. 

In winter, the amount of dirt on the road - and therefore your car increases.

And in winter, the sun stays lower in the sky, putting you at greater risk of being dazzled. 

To properly clean your car windows, you should use two microfibre towels - one to clean, and one to dry. 

Don’t use harsh cleaning chemicals - stick to soapy water, or get a specialist window cleaner for this essential job. 

If police think your windows are too dirty, you could get a £100 and three penalty points at the roadside.

This could rise to £5,000 and nine points in court.

Check your oil

We Brits are bad at checking our oil. 

Hardly any of us perform this essential maintenance task once a month, which is how often the experts recommend. 

And some of us never do it ourselves, waiting instead for a mechanic to do it as part of a service.

Before the winter months, you should check your car’s oil using the dip stick, to ensure that the engine is lubricated. 

The oil warning light on the dashboard may only come on when the oil is dangerously low.

Check your battery

Winter is hard on your battery and the electrical system. 

On a cold day, the engine in a car takes more effort to “turn over”, which puts extra strain on the battery and the starter motor. 

What’s more, cold weather significantly affects how much electricity your battery can send out to the starter motor in the first place. 

If you’ve noticed your car sounding reluctant to start in summer and autumn, consider buying a new battery now - before the car refuses to turn over on a frosty morning when you’re late for work. 

You can buy a car battery and fit it at home, but most stockists will fit it for you. They might also check the “health” of your existing battery and tell you if it needs to be replaced. 

Keep winter kit in your car

Breaking down in summer is annoying. Breaking down in winter can be dangerous.

When temperatures drop, a simple mechanical failure can put the occupants of a vehicle at serious risk if they can’t be rescued quickly. 

And with weather events increasing the likelihood of closed roads and sudden floods, you should prepare your vehicle for a long wait in the cold.

Keep warm clothing and a travel rug in your car in case you become stranded in freezing conditions. 

An ice scraper should be stowed in your glove box in case you need it when you get moving again, or in case your car unexpectedly freezes when parked. 

Keep food and snacks in the car, in case your wait is really long. 

You should carry a high-vis vest and a torch in case you or a passenger needs to leave the car. 

A snow shovel can help if you get really stuck.

And, perhaps most importantly, carry a phone charger - and use it.

Check your wiper blades

You could get fined £100 for having defective windscreen wipers - something guaranteed to make a rainy day worse. 

This fine can increase if it escalates to court. 

That’s a huge sum compared to the cost of new wiper blades, which can be as little as a tenner. 

Poor visibility in wet weather is extremely dangerous, making it more difficult to perceive hazards in time to take action. 

In winter weather, this is compounded by longer stopping distances on slippery surfaces.

It’s crucial that you check your wiper blades before winter begins. If your wipers are leaving streaks across the glass, it’s time to get new ones. 

Most mainstream retailers will help you buy the correct blades and fit them for you, too.

Consider buying winter tyres

In some parts of Europe, winter tyres are a mandatory part of driving, either on specific roads prone to ice and snow, or as a seasonal regulation. 

In Britain we don’t bother with this, but there’s an argument that we should. 

Winter tyres are designed to maximise grip in cold weather. They aren’t just for snow - they help when the temperature drops. 

If you’re regularly driving in cold weather, consider using winter tyres until spring.

Some tyre retailers offer “tyre hotel” services, which store winter tyres in the summer months, and your normal tyres in winter. 

If you think you may have to drive in the snow, keep snow chains or “snow socks” in your car - and learn how to fit them properly before you have to teach yourself in a freezing layby. 

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