Driving in bad weather is never fun and winter is obviously a prime time for it. Rain, wind, sleet, snow, ice - and even low sun - can all be dangerous.
Couple that with extended hours of darkness and it's no wonder that many people don't like driving at this time of year. Drivers can also be at risk of being fined if they don't stick to the rules, some of which are specific to winter.
A study by ATS Euromaster has found that 60% of drivers don't know the recommended driving distance in snow and ice and only 39% know you should use only fog lights when visibility is seriously reduced, which is a legal requirement and can result in points on a licence and a £30 fine.
Just half (49%) of British drivers don’t slow down while driving in heavy rain, which works out at 25 million drivers, while more than half (53%) don’t slow down while driving in snow and ice, even though almost one in 10 (9%) have had an accident in this weather. Women are slightly more likely to slow down in the rain (52% compared to 48% of men).
ATS also found that younger drivers aged 18 to 24 were least likely to slow down, with less than a third said they did (29%), compared to 66% of people aged over 55. Only 8% of new drivers on the road for less than a year admitted to reducing their speed in heavy rain, which can be very dangerous.
Five winter road rules many Brits don't know
Keep your aircon on and avoid a £1,000 fine
Driving in bad weather can mean your windows are likely to quickly steam up. Make sure you have your air conditioning on to make sure your visibility isn’t reduced, and you avoid a fine. Driving with misty windows could get you a £1,000 fine and three points on your licence.
Clear windows and lights and avoid a £60 fine and points
It’s a legal requirement to have a clear view of the road before you set off. Not having cleared away snow and ice properly could result in a £60 fine and three points on your licence.
Leave 10 times the recommended gap in snow and ice
More than half (60%) of drivers don’t know the recommended driving distance in snow and ice, according to the ATS study. When the roads are icy, they will inevitably be more slippery than usual, and braking distances can be 10 times more than on a dry road.
National Highways therefore advises to slow down and keep 10 times the normal recommended gap between you and the car in front. It also advises to drive particularly slowly around bends.
Only use fog lights if visibility is seriously reduced
Rule 236 of the Highway Code states: "You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.”
The ATS study found that 60% of drivers didn't know this to be true. Worryingly, one in five (21%) drivers thought drivers should use full beam headlights during fog, which can be very dangerous.
Leave a gap of four seconds during heavy rain
National Highways says drivers should slow down and increase the gap between them and the vehicle in front to at least four seconds minimum during periods of heavy rainfall. This is to allow for longer braking distances due to slippery roads. More than half (52%) of drivers weren’t aware of this.
Five essential tips for driving in bad weather
Check your tyres
Tyres with low tread wear seriously affect the grip they have on the road and can make aquaplaning more likely. The legal limit is at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre. You may want to consider getting all season tyres too, which can be more effective at gripping in poor conditions.
Check your wiper blades
It’s important to check that your front and back wiper blades are functioning properly and if not then get these replaced.
Fill up
Getting stuck in traffic in bad weather increases your fuel consumption so make sure you have enough fuel in your car.
Check for any weather advice
Check out local news bulletins for any road closures or flooding that is affecting travel. If the conditions are particularly bad, consider if you really need to take the journey
Use dipped headlights in heavy rain and avoid a £50 fine
If visibility is seriously reduced due to rain and spray from roads, you should use your dipped headlights to help you and other drivers.
