Winter drive safety tips

Is your car winter roadworthy?

• Check brakes, wiper blades, battery, tyre pressure and tread.
• Check all your lights are in working order.
• Use your headlights, not park lights in low light conditions.
• Clear the ice off all your windows before you start up - use cold water or an ice scraper.

Plan your trip

• Check road conditions and choose safety over convenience to select your route.
• For 24 hour road conditions and road closure information, call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).
• Dress for the conditions - carry warm clothes in case you get stuck or break down. For a long trip have some food and water in the car.
• Towing is not recommended in icy conditions.

Drive to the conditions

• Keep speed down - watch for shaded areas where ice may stay all day.
• Increase following distance to four seconds.
• Avoid sudden movements - accelerate smoothly and brake very gently.
• Fit chains on the driving wheels of the vehicle.
• You need chains on the front wheels to ensure you have steering control when going downhill on icy roads.
• To brake, pump the brake in short rapid bursts rather than pressing long and hard.