Winter driving
We treat roads with salt and grit in wintry weather to make the roads safer. Local area highway offices can give you information about when they are treating the roads.
During wintry weather conditions:
- ask yourself – is your journey absolutely essential
- check the local and national weather forecasts
- listen to local and national radio for travel information
- tell someone at your destination what time you expect to arrive
- make sure you are equipped with warm clothes, food, boots and a torch. In snowy conditions, take a spade.
- clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, and carry a screen scraper and de-icer
- adjust your driving to the conditions – hail, heavy snow and rain reduce visibility, so use dipped headlights and reduce your speed.
Driving tips for freezing conditions
- Beware of shady areas where ice may not have melted.
- Allow extra time for your journey.
- Make sure you can see clearly and be seen.
- Use main routes wherever possible.
- Drive with care and allow greater stopping distances – it can take ten times longer to stop in icy conditions than on a dry road. Drive slowly, allowing extra room to slow down and stop.
- Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin
- Manoeuvre gently, avoiding rapid acceleration, harsh braking or sharp turns of the steering wheel.
- To brake on ice or snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently.
- If you start to skid, ease off the accelerator but do not brake suddenly.
- Check your vehicle tyre pressures, depth of tread, lights, wipers, washer bottle, antifreeze and battery charge level.
Driving tips for heavy snow
- Only drive if it is necessary.
- Dress warmly and be prepared to get stuck.
- If it is snowing and windy, avoid travelling if you can.
Other winter weather problems
- Black ice, which is very difficult to see on road surfaces.
- Hoar frost, where ice crystals form on the surface of the road and make it very slippery.
- Freezing rain, which occurs when rain falls on very cold surfaces and freezes. It is very rare but extremely difficult to deal with as any salt spread prior to the rain starting is usually washed away and re-salting is then needed to treat the frozen surface.
Reporting a problem
Contact your local area highway office for any problems you may notice on roads or pavements near you.
