How to drive in snow safely, as UK braced for coldest night of year so fa

Large parts of the UK are set to brace their coldest night of the year so far, and with yellow warnings for snow in place across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the experts at Bill Plant Driving School have shared 5 tips to help motorists drive safely in snow.

Visibility is key in wintery conditions and you should make sure to double check your wipers are in working order before setting off on any journeys. You should check for wear and tear in the rubber, as well as if the wipers leave smears and dirt, when deciding on replacing the blades.

Control is critical when it comes to driving in the snow and every manoeuvre should be completed slowly and with care. Be gentle on the throttle and set off smoothly using low revs, as any harsh acceleration could cause wheel spin. If you are slowing down then constantly be ready to gently brake as you go down through the gears, as this will help alert road users behind you of your indication with the brake lights.

Pulling off in second gear is advised, whilst easing off the clutch gently to avoid wheel spin. Once in motion, it is wise to drive in as higher gear as possible, and this is because you will be keeping your revs lower and in turn reduce your wheel spin. Once in the correct gear, changing gear should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

Stopping distances usually double in wet conditions, but in snow and ice you should be looking to leave a gap which is up to 10 times bigger than standard. Gear changing and braking should be avoided where possible, especially on hills where you should wait till the traffic is clear before keeping a constant speed.

With shorter days in the winter months, side lights or full headlights are commonly in use most of the time. You must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, normally when you can’t see further than 100 metres. Fog can also cause problems and front or rear fog lights can be used when there is little visibility.