What to Pay Attention to When Driving in Winter?

From a mechanic’s perspective, winter driving starts with a well-maintained car. Check the battery health, as cold weather strains it. Inspect tyre tread depth—legally, it must be at least 1.6mm, but 3mm is safer for winter. Test the antifreeze concentration to prevent engine freeze-ups. Brake fluid should be clean, and wiper blades must be in good condition. A quick pre-winter service can prevent breakdowns.

Driving in winter requires extra caution due to icy roads, reduced visibility, and colder temperatures. The key points to focus on are vehicle preparation, driving techniques, and emergency readiness.

1. Vehicle preparation: Ensure your car is winter-ready. Check the battery, as cold weather reduces its efficiency. Use antifreeze in the coolant system. Winter tyres provide better grip on icy roads compared to all-season tyres. Keep the windscreen washer fluid topped up with a winter-grade solution to prevent freezing.

1. Driving techniques: Reduce speed and increase following distances. Black ice is particularly dangerous as it’s nearly invisible. Gentle acceleration and braking prevent skidding. If your car has ABS (anti-lock braking system), apply firm pressure during emergency stops rather than pumping the brakes.

1. Visibility: Clear snow and ice from all windows, mirrors, and lights before driving. Use dipped headlights in poor weather. Fog lights should only be used when visibility drops below 100 metres.

1. Emergency kit: Carry essentials like a blanket, torch, ice scraper, and jump leads. A shovel and grit can help if you get stuck.

Popular models like the Ford Focus or Vauxhall Corsa handle winter conditions well, but no car is immune to ice. Stay alert and adjust driving habits to the conditions.

When driving in winter, it is important to warm up the car before setting off, start gently and slowly, and change gears frequently.

Warm up the car before setting off:

In winter, the temperature is low, and the viscosity of the lubricating oil increases, making it less fluid. Therefore, after starting the engine, keep it at around 1,100 rpm to allow the car to warm up before moving off. During this time, avoid pressing the accelerator sharply or letting the engine rev too high. There is no need to wait for the engine temperature to rise to the optimal level before setting off; you can start once the temperature gauge needle begins to rise.

Start gently and slowly:

Starting in winter must be done very gently and slowly. This is partly to minimise the load on the engine before it reaches normal operating temperature and partly to allow the tyres, which are still hard and not yet warmed up, to heat up gradually. This is beneficial for the engine, tyres, and safety.

Change gears frequently:

When driving in winter, change gears frequently, as if driving a car during its break-in period. Pay close attention to gear selection and the coordination between the clutch and accelerator. Gears that are too low or too high can easily cause the car to lose control, which is particularly important when driving on icy or snowy roads.