Winter driving tips: F1 legend Nigel Mansell’s eight lessons to keep YOU alive this Christmas on wet and icy roads
RAIN, wind, snow and ice combine in the winter to make it a deadly cocktail on British roads.
Frozen windscreens, icy puddles and misty mornings all mean you need to take extra care in the next few months.
And who better to give you some lessons on how to stay safe this Christmas than a former F1 world champion?
The Sun Online enlisted the help of 1992 champ Nigel Mansell to give us eight vital driving tips to ensure we stay on the straight and narrow.
"Our Nige" - who's now ditched the moustache - knows a thing or two about controlling a car having regularly topped 200mph.
And Mansell, 64, is now more focused on safe driving than lap times as president of road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.
And staying safe is never more important in wintry conditions when Brits have to deal with a combination of wet roads, ice and, in some areas, heavy snow.
At a windswept and drizzly test track which sums up British road conditions perfectly, Mansell said: "Nobody is bulletproof."
1. Use second gear
If it's rained heavily, is icy or you're on snow, pulling away in second gear can make it easier and reduce the chance of spinning up the wheels.
You need to make sure you give the car enough revs to avoid stalling it but most modern cars have enough grunt to get you moving.
It'll stop you losing control and means you don't have grab for the gears as much. In some extra cases you might need to try third gear, advises Nigel.
2. Concentration is king
For Mansell, keeping concentration comes second nature having spent hours lapping a track without losing focus.
But for a regular driver it can be much harder not to go into "autopilot" mode - especially on roads close to home.
Nigel said: "You have to programme your mind to the conditions.
"If you're not prepared you might get away with it but it will bite you eventually."
3. Assume you will have to stop
Approaching traffic lights, T-junctions or roundabouts Mansell says you should be expecting to stop to avoid a last minute stamp on the brakes.
And don't tailgate the car in front either because if they stop suddenly you'll have less time to react.
This'll create a chain reaction down the line leaving some poor driver further back with no choice but to end up in the back of another car.
Mansell said: "The smoother you drive the better. Gradually slow as you see lights even if they're green and then if you arrive and it's still green then speed back up.
"If you brake too quickly and drive badly, the bloke at the back has no chance."
4. Understand ABS and ESC
Modern cars are packed with gadgets to keep you on the straight and narrow and even your 10-year-old motor is likely to have ABS - but you need to understand how it works and what it does.
ABS - or anti-lock braking system - doesn't mean you can brake later and you'll be fine.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) will flash up on the dash if you're at risk of losing grip showing you it's working overtime to help keep you in a straight line and you need to slow down.
The F1 world champion said: "Know the car's limits - it is there to support you.
";ABS does not mean a shorter stopping distance but that wheels will always remain traction and you can still steer away from danger.
"It takes the bad driver out of the equation and makes it a level playing field for everyone."
5. Read the behaviour of those around you
Despite being a former world champion and race ace, Mansell has been in his fair share of shunts on the track - and it's not something he wants to repeat on the road.
But even if he's driving properly, he says he's still aware of those around him - just like he would be on the starting grid.
That includes lane discipline on motorways - like someone jumping into a tiny gap and causing you to slow down - as well as being aware if someone can't stop and might rear-end you at the lights.
He added: "If you're in lane two of a motorway, anticipate what's in lane one and who might pull out in front of you to overtake.
"If you see it coming you can anticipate it - and not get angry - but just smile to yourself and say 'here we go again'."
6. Adjust your braking distances - and when you brake
In low grip situations like puddles, wet leaves or ice, braking earlier and smoother is vital to avoid your car spinning out into a ditch, tree or another car.
Leave yourself plenty of space ahead to do your braking in good time. A four second gap in winter conditions is advised on motorways.
But the brakes aren't always the answer - and here's why.
Mansell explains: "The biggest risk of greasy roads is aquaplaning - and the last thing you want to do is hit the brakes.
"Keep hold of the steering wheel, and ease off the accelerator, change down a gear, steer away from any skid, and don't panic."
7. Take your time
For Mansell, the most crucial element of staying safe is timings - don't put yourself in a position where you have to rush.
He advises that if you see it's wet outside, there are leaves on the road or your car is showing the frost indicator (normally around 3C), then drop your speed and add time to your journey planning.
The champ said: "Don't put yourself in a difficult situation and drive outside the limits because you will have an accident."
8. Get new tyres
"People say to me, 'I'll see myself through the winter with these tyres and get new ones next year' - that to me is crazy", says Mansell.
Getting fresh rubber for the winter season is one of the biggest factors to avoiding a crash as old tyres have less tread meaning you're more likely to skid or aquaplane.
Mansell added: "Check your tyre pressures and your tread depths - and make sure they're not anywhere close to the minimum legal level."
