Safe winter driving tips: be prepared and stay safe

January 7, 2025

Why is winter driving safety important? Driving in winter can throw up all sorts of unfamiliar road conditions and challenges. As ever, it helps to be forewarned and prepared. So, the following are some tips and suggestions for driving safely, the additional winter kit you might need to keep handy, and what to do if the worst happens and you’re involved in an accident.

Key tip: Perhaps the most important safety feature to keep in the background is your up-to-date motor insurance – and for those employers out there, now could be the time for a review of your motor fleet insurance.

Winter driving tips

According to the BBC, drivers should accelerate and steer as smoothly as possible when roads are icy or wet. Plus…

• avoid sudden braking. Instead, slow down gradually to maintain control, as snow and ice can increase stopping distances by up to 10 times;

• maintain extra space between your vehicle and others;

• consider whether your journey is essential. If not, stay home;

• for businesses, ensure each fleet vehicle carries a winter emergency kit and is covered by fleet insurance for added security.

Essential winter kit for emergencies

Whatever the reason for driving, it’s worth preparing for the worst to happen by packing the following items recommended by the RAC for use in an emergency:

• shovel or spade – and an old square of carpet you can slip under the wheels for extra traction if the vehicle gets stuck in the snow;

• blanket to keep you and any passengers warm – together with some non-perishable food and drink;

• hi-vis tabard to slip over your clothes so you can be seen if you’re forced to stop or break down – plus a hazard warning triangle;

• phone charger and torch (preferably the wind-up kind so you’re not reliant on a battery);

• map – in case the GPS fails;

• ice-scraper, de-icer, and reserves of screen wash;

• jump leads; and

• a first aid kit.

What to do in an accident?

Are you sure you – and any drivers you employ – know just what to do in the event of an accident? The rules are going to be the same whether you are driving your own car or a fleet vehicle. Step by step guidance is available here – and can be summarised as follows:

• stop, turn off the engine, turn on the hazard warning lights, and get out of the vehicle to take stock of the situation;

• check whether anyone is injured – and, if necessary, call for an ambulance and the police;

• whilst you are obliged to swap details with anyone else involved in the accident, do not admit liability;

• make a detailed account of exactly what happened, illustrating your record with drawings, sketches, and photographs on your phone.

As soon as possible, you will need to inform your motor insurer of the accident – and, if necessary, make a claim for any damage. If the vehicle is covered by your fleet insurance, ensure that any employees have details of the cover and know what to do in those vital first steps of helping you make a claim. Full details about making an insurance claim are available here.