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Be prepared for bad weather

Make sure you don't get caught out when severe weather strikes.

Check and service your vehicle

You can reduce your chances of breaking down by regularly servicing your car.

You should also:

• top up anti-freeze and screenwash
• check for wear and tear on wiper blades (replace them as soon as they start to smear rather than clean windows)
• make sure your battery is fully charged (batteries last between two and four years - replace yours if it's no longer reliable)
• keep tyre pressure at the manufacturer's recommended level and check you have at least 3 millimetres of tread
• wipe dirt and spray off headlamps and make sure all bulbs are working

Carry an emergency kit

A basic kit should include:

• map
• jump leads for the car battery
• torch
• warning triangle
• ice scraper and de-icer
• first-aid kit
• warm clothes

If you are planning a long trip or if severe weather is forecast, you may want to add:

• a shovel (if there's a chance of snow)
• a pair of boots
• a blanket
• any medication you need to take regularly
• food and a thermos with a hot drink

Sunglasses are useful too, because of the glare in snowy conditions.

Plan your journey and check weather and travel advice

Ask yourself whether you really need to travel or if you can delay your journey until conditions improve.

If you must travel, plan your journey carefully.

Before you set off:

• check live traffic information online or by calling the Highways Agency live traffic information service on 08700 660 115 (England only) - be prepared to delay your journey or change your route
• plan your route, including breaks at service areas if you are doing a long motorway journey

As you travel:

• listen to travel news and weather on local radio (if you have a digital radio set it to Traffic Radio)
• you can check conditions on the road ahead using Highways Agency Traffic Information Points at service areas and other venues

• Plan your journey

• Get traffic information on the move

• Find motorway service areas in England

Drive to suit the conditions

Stopping distances

On slippery roads, it can take up to ten times longer to stop - reduce your speed and drive carefully, even if roads have been gritted

In the most severe weather conditions, you should only drive if you really need to. Otherwise it may be better to delay your journey until the weather improves.

Even after roads have been treated in winter, driving conditions may remain challenging - especially if there is a high risk of ice. Be aware that ice forms more easily on:

• hilly or exposed roads
• roads that pass under or over a bridge
• roads shaded by trees or buildings

Starting to skid

If you start to skid:

• press the clutch
• steer into the skid
• as you straighten, steer back along the road

Don't let winter turn you into a bad driver - check the Highway Code information on 'Driving in adverse weather conditions'. This section of the Highway Code covers driving in:

• wet weather
• icy and snowy weather
• windy weather
• fog
• hot weather

• Driving in adverse weather conditions (Highway Code)

You can also read the Highways Agency advice on driving in poor weather conditions.

• Make time for winter (Highways Agency advice on driving in extreme weather) Opens new window

If things go wrong

However carefully you plan your journey, things can go wrong. An accident or bad weather could mean that a road is closed for a time.

If you're on a closed stretch of the motorway

If you find yourself on a stretch of motorway that is closed, stay in the car and listen to traffic news. The Highways Agency feeds up-to-date news to local radio. Tune in by pressing 'TA' on your radio.

If you're stuck in queues

If you find yourself in a queue on the road, check the electronic message signs for real-time information and instructions.

If there's a road accident

If an accident has stopped traffic moving, Highways Agency Traffic Officers or Incident Support Unit staff will put emergency plans into action at the scene. You should stay in the car and follow their instructions.

• Electronic message signs

• Highways Agency Traffic Officers

Other useful links

• Weather information from the Met Office Opens new window

• What to do if you break down on the motorway

Useful contacts

• Department for Transport (DfT)

• Transport for London (TfL)