Winter Driving Tips

Tips and guides | 30.11.2025

Even the most seasoned drivers can feel apprehensive about driving in winter as wet and icy conditions, visibility challenges and reduced control increase the risk of breakdowns.

Follow our winter driving tips to enhance your safety, minimise accident risks and avoid fines and penalties.

In short

Check the weather forecast
Allow extra time
Pack a winter car kit
Check tyre pressure and depth
Test the battery
Defrost car windows
Keep your distance
Plan routes
Wear weather appropriate clothing
Delay a non-essential trip

Must know

Increase the 2 second gap between you and the driver in front to 20 seconds. Stopping distances in snow and ice can be 10 times longer compared to dry weather.¹

How to prepare for winter driving

Most winter driving advice starts with preparing the car before you hit the road. Creating a winter driving plan will keep you from ending up stranded and shivering by the roadside – or worse, losing control.

The Highway Code stresses the need to avoid driving in icy or snowy conditions¹. Only venture out in wintry weather if your trip is absolutely necessary. If you must drive, take the following steps:

Check the weather via the Met Office or other forecaster
De-ice your car windows
Check coolant levels, add antifreeze if needed, and top up your screen wash
Brush your roof, mirrors, windshield and number plate clear of snow
Turn on all your lights in turn to check they’re working
Pump the tyres to the correct pressure
Check the tyre depth is at least 3mm for optimal performance
Test the battery and replace it if needed
Charge your phone before your journey
Be sure you have enough petrol or diesel in the tank
If you have an electric vehicle, charge it fully
Ensure that your wipers are undamaged and working correctly
Check your brakes work

Read our tips on winter car maintenance for detailed insights.

How to check your tyre depth

The AA recommends using the 20p coin test as a quick way of checking your tyre depth. If you can see part of the outer rim when you place it in the grooves of your tyre, it’s essential to take a moment to check your tyres with a calibrated gauge for your safety.

Tyre gauges come in various forms, including digital gauges and laminated cards. Simply place them in various grooves around the tyre to help you see how much the tyre has worn down.

Pack a winter driving kit

An essential winter driving kit ensures your safety and comfort outside your car as you await the arrival of breakdown services.

In addition to a fully charged mobile phone for reaching rescue services, be sure to include the following essentials in your winter driving kit:

A mobile or in-car charger for back-up
Car breakdown service details to call in case you get stuck
Ice-scraper to keep your windscreen, side windows and mirrors clear of ice
De-icing spray to work with your ice-scraper in clearing ice faster
Fold-up shovel in case you need to dig the car out of snow
Set of jump leads to power up your car from another vehicle
Empty fuel can for a quick top-up in case roadside assistance takes longer than expected
Check oil levels to reduce the risk of a breakdown
Warm high-vis clothes to keep you and your passengers cosy and visible while waiting
Sturdy walking boots or shoes that will warm your feet and grip the ice
Blanket or travel rug for added warmth while you wait in icy/snowy conditions
A torch (with spare batteries) if you need to change a tyre or view your surroundings in the dark
Water and a snack to consume in an emergency or if you’re stranded
A British Standard-compliant first aid kit for roadside accidents
Non-clumping cat litter to sprinkle around tyres and provide traction in snow
An emergency triangle for warning other drivers that the car is stuck

Tips for safe driving on roads in winter

If you feel uneasy about driving on ice and snow, ask yourself whether you truly need to go out. It might be safer to put off your trip than risk getting into difficulty. In harsh weather, always avoid unnecessary journeys.

Here’s how to drive safely if you must go out in wintry conditions:

Allow extra time for your journey

When you’re facing wintry conditions like ice, fog and high winds, a morning commute of 30 minutes could easily double. Save getting stressed on the road by allowing more time to get to your workplace or to visit friends and relatives.

Keep your distance from other cars

Taking the time to slow down and allow for a longer braking distance can greatly help keep you safe while driving on icy, snowy, or rainy roads. Your careful approach can significantly lower the chances of an accident. In typical driving conditions, maintaining a two-second gap between vehicles allows for safe braking. But in icy conditions, stopping distances can be 10 times longer.

Avoid other driver’s tyre tracks

Fresh snow provides better grip than ice, so avoid following the tyre marks of the vehicle ahead. Their tracks will compact the snow, making the surface slippery and slick. Typically, winter road gritting will cover the main roads, so avoid rural or minor routes if you can.

Watch for black ice

Black ice is virtually invisible, making it all the more hazardous. Even when the day has warmed up and the ice has seemingly melted, pockets of black ice can collect under bridges, trees and in dips and easily catch you out.

What to do if your car skids on ice

If you must drive in ice and snow, stick to gritted roads as much as possible and keep your speed down. Brake, accelerate and steer in a gentle, unhurried manner. Use your gears instead of your brake pedal to slow down and don’t brake sharply. If you need to, tap the brakes lightly to avoid a potential skid.

Beware of potholes

Heavy rain and other extreme weather can cause roads to break down faster and form potholes.² Puddles and floods can conceal hidden potholes. For a safer journey, ease off the accelerator and drive carefully down the centre of the road where it’s likely to be shallow and you can avoid any holes.

How to claim for pothole damage.

Turn into a skid if you start to slide

One of the fears of winter driving is losing control of your vehicle. If you start to skid on snow or ice, steer into it. Resist the urge to slam on the brakes as it could worsen the situation. To straighten your car, gently release the brake and turn the steering wheel in the direction you wish to go.

Dip your headlights in wintry weather

Dipping your headlines is a good idea if heavy snow has reduced visibility. Dipped lights will reduce the glare and prevent oncoming motorists from being dazzled, while helping you to see ahead. If you’re driving in fog and can’t see even with headlines, turn on your fog lights to improve your visibility.

Park your car facing downhill

Try to park facing downhill or on a flat surface, as starting from an uphill slope can be risky and may cause you to lose traction and roll back into another car.

What to do if stranded in snow

Most people in the UK are unlikely to get stuck in snow or ice.³ On the rare occasions it settles, don’t persist with driving – if your wheels are spinning, stop and try the following:

Get out and try to clear the snow with the shovel from your winter driving kit
Check that snow is not covering the exhaust pipe (then do this periodically)
Add the cat litter in sprinkles around the tyres to improve traction
Gently rock the car back and forth using the first and reverse gears (turning off traction control), then steer straight and drive slowly ahead
If the vehicle will not move, signal that you need help by switching on the hazard lights
Call the emergency or breakdown services for help
Stay inside the car until help arrives
Wrap up warmly in any extra clothing, a blanket or travel rug
Turn your vehicle on for 10 minutes per hour to keep warm and protect fuel levels
Allow air in through a small gap in the window to prevent carbon monoxide build-up.

It’s helpful to keep your insurance details, including the phone number and policy number, easily accessible, so you’ll be prepared in case you ever find yourself in an accident.

Find out what to do if you have a car accident.

Fines for winter driving offences

Under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act,⁴ the courts could fine you for careless driving, impose penalty points and even disqualify you if you drove too fast in snow and ice – even if it was within the statutory speed limit.

You could also receive a fixed penalty notice under section 3ZA of the Act¹ for splashing a pedestrian with water from a puddle, which is considered inconsiderate driving. Courts can issue a fine of up to £5,000 for serious offences. If convicted, you could also face increased car insurance premiums.

Fines and penalty points may also apply if you fail to clear snow or ice from your car and it obstructs your vision or flies off into another vehicle. So, demist your windows completely and ensure that snow does not conceal lights, mirrors and the numberplate, to avoid a penalty.

Insurance and winter driving

Typically, if you have comprehensive car insurance, your insurer will cover you in the event of an accident while driving in wintry conditions.

Since insurance companies can vary in their assessments of damages, it’s wise to review the policy wording carefully. They might also deny a claim if they obtain evidence that you drove recklessly or disregarded warnings about floods or road closures.

Sources:

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