Winter driving tips 2026: how to stay safe on snowy and icy roads

Driving in winter can certainly be challenging. Dark nights, cold mornings, adverse weather conditions like fog, rain, sleet, snow and ice all make driving more hazardous. Don’t worry though as our top winter driving tips will help you understand the precautions you should take to stay safe on the roads during the colder months.

Unlike those who live in colder countries such as Norway or Sweden, many of us in the UK might have very little experience of driving in extreme winter conditions. It’s rare that we get blanketed with snow or a prolonged freeze and this can mean that we’re underprepared when it does happen. Taking the right precautions, preparing properly and making sensible decisions are crucial to staying safe on the roads in the winter.

Below, we’ve outlined our top tips for winter driving, as well as the steps you should take before setting off on your journey. 

Winter driving tips

Driving in the winter is dangerous. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), in 2022 14 people were killed, 379 were seriously injured and 1,227 were slightly injured in reported road collisions on UK roads during adverse winter weather conditions, so it’s important that you properly prepare to avoid becoming part of these statistics. 

If at all possible, avoid driving in very bad conditions. If you absolutely have to make a journey and driving is the only option, make sure you prepare before setting out. 

It’s always important to remember that you can’t just drive your car as normal. Grip levels are significantly lower in snow and icy conditions than in the wet or dry, therefore it is easier to lose control of your car.

Before your journey

Planning is everything so before heading out on the road in winter make sure you think ahead and weigh-up the risks.  

Should you travel?

If the weather is bad and your journey isn’t essential then it’s always best to wait for the poor conditions to clear. If you must travel then it's important to pick the right roads and avoid areas that will be particularly weather beaten. 

Plan ahead

Using a map app before travelling, and good sat-nav guidance while on route, will help you find out where the traffic is at its worst and avoid any accident sites. Also check the weather forecast to see if things are set to get any better or worse. 

Regardless of the current traffic and weather conditions, allow yourself plenty of extra time to get to your destination. 

Prepare your car

Basic car maintenance checks should be carried out all year round, but they’re particularly important during the winter months. Colder weather puts more stress on key car components, like the battery, increasing the likelihood of a breakdown. 

Check your fluids

Make sure you have plenty of fuel – whether this is petrol, diesel or electricity – if you’re stuck in traffic or your car needs to work harder than usual in order to move, you will burn through fuel at a faster rate. If you get stranded in snowy or icy conditions, the last thing you want is the car running out of fuel and you losing your heat source.

It’s also a good idea to check your car’s other fluids, such as screenwash, antifreeze and oil, in order to reduce the risk of a breakdown.

Check your battery

In a petrol or diesel car, the battery provides enough power to help jolt the engine into life when you turn the key, but colder temperatures can play havoc with the chemical process that produces and stores energy within the cells, slowing the battery down and reducing its ability to hold charge. 

Without enough charge in the battery, your car might be slow to start, or fail to start entirely, leaving you stranded. Another telltale sign that you might need a new battery is if you notice that your lights are dim. 

You can check your car battery's health by inspecting the indicator on top of the battery for its state of charge, or visit a motor parts store which offers free battery checks. 

In electric cars, the batteries also perform less efficiently in cold weather. You are likely to experience reduced driving range because of this and the extra energy needed for heating the cabin.

Ensure good visibility

Before getting behind the wheel, make sure your car is fully de-iced and that any snow is removed. Failing to sufficiently clear your car is against the law and you could incur a fixed penalty notice of up to £1,000, as well as endangering yourself and other road users. 

Also check that your windscreen wipers are in good condition, your windscreen wash is fully topped-up and your windows are clean.

Check your lights

Conduct a test of your car’s lighting before you set off, this is easy to do and will ensure that you are as visible as possible to other drivers. Make sure the headlights and rear tail lights are clean and any snow or road salt grime has been removed.

Keep a spare set of bulbs within the car will also minimise the time and inconvenience of replacing a blown bulb.

Tyres and tread depth

Inspect your tyres – including the spare – to make sure that they are fully inflated, in good condition and have plenty of tread. 

If the winter weather is particularly bad in your area, it may be worth investing in a set of winter tyres, snow socks or chains.

Any faults and warning lights?

If you notice any faults with your car or it’s showing a warning light on the dashboard, it’s not advisable to set off without having this fault rectified. Taking a gamble could easily result in you being stranded at the roadside.

Be prepared and go equipped

The famous boy scout motto; ‘be prepared’ is crucial when you’re driving in winter. 

Having the right kit assembled in your car will not only help keep you safe, but increases the chances of you making it to your destination in one piece.

Keep ice at bay

This may seem obvious, but keeping a can of de-icer and an ice scraper in the car will prevent you from being caught out by frosty windows. 

If your car suffers from water ingress, keep some dehumidifiers in the cabin to reduce the amount it steams up and make sure you de-mist your windscreen correctly.

Keep warm and pack blankets

Your car may have an effective heating system but make sure you pack suitable winter clothing such as a hat, scarf and coat in case you have to step outside. Keep a warm blanket to hand in case you break down or get stranded. 

Carry battery packs and stay in touch

A fully charged mobile phone, charging cables and battery pack will allow you to contact your recovery provider or the emergency services if needed.

Before setting off make sure you let friends or family know where you are driving to and the time you’re expected to arrive.

Emergency kit

Always prepare for the worst when driving in winter and keep an emergency kit in your car.

While an emergency kit might seem unnecessary, if you do end up getting stuck or break down in extreme conditions, these items might save your life as you wait for rescue.

We recommend you should carry:

• De-icing equipment
• A high-visibility jacket 
• A shovel and tow rope 
• Warning triangles, 
• A working torch and spare batteries 
• Jump leads or a jump pack
• Warm clothing, blankets, hats and gloves
• Some food and drink 
• And a first-aid kit 

Driving in winter conditions

Here are our top tips for actually driving your car safely in bad winter weather…

Always look and plan ahead

Looking ahead is the easiest way to stay in control, but don’t just concentrate on the end of the bonnet or the back of the car in front. 

Look as far ahead as you can see and then work back to the front of your car. When you approach a bend, look around it as far as you can. Doing this will allow you to prepare your speed and steering well in advance and avoid late and potentially dangerous movements.

Read the signs

Looking ahead doesn’t just mean looking at what other road users are doing and where the road goes. Road signs and markings can give you a heap of important information that can make you safer. 

Both standard and electronic road signs can assist you by displaying what the road surface is like, how steep the road is, what the speed limit is and what might be coming up. None of this should be ignored.

Always stay visible

In conditions where visibility is reduced, such as fog or heavy rain, keep your dipped headlights on so that you can be seen by other road users. If you have automatic lights, override them so that they are constantly on. 

If visibility is 100 metres or less also use your fog lights. Remember that daytime running lights do nothing to illuminate the rear of the car so should not be relied on in low light conditions. 

Select the right gear

In some cases, you might need to set off in second gear rather than first in order to prevent your wheels from slipping. 

If you drive an automatic car it may have the option to select second or another low gear manually. Some automatic models also feature a winter-driving mode which tells the gearbox to select a higher gear when setting off.

Keep your distance to the car in front

In normal dry road conditions, the two-second rule to the car in front applies, but in wet weather you need to double this to four seconds. 

When driving in snowy and icy conditions this should be up to 10 times greater. Extended separation distances are crucial in poor conditions as it gives you the time and space to react to what is going on around you. When the road is slippery and tailgating is nothing short of reckless. 

Reduce your speed

It’s not just grip on the road that can alter things as visibility is also greatly affected when driving in fog or heavy rain. You will see obstacles much later and this impacts on your ability to assess how to respond. 

Match your speed to visibility: the less you see, the slower you need to drive.

Drive smoothly and avoid harsh braking or accelerating

Applying too much power, braking abruptly or steering erratically can upset the balance of the car and ultimately lead to unsafe situations. 

Remember to brake, accelerate, change gear and apply steering angle as smoothly as possible. The smoother you drive, the less likely it is you’ll lose control. 

Steering inputs should be equally smooth – avoid jerky movements and try to plan ahead as much as possible. 

To slow down on snow or ice, lift off the accelerator as early as possible to allow your speed to drop and select a lower gear if needed. Apply the brake pedal gently.

Keep your feet on the pedals

Smooth driving doesn’t mean coasting, so you shouldn’t ever be not giving the car any input. If you’re not on the brakes, then you should be giving the car some throttle as this helps to manage weight transfer. 

It can be very tempting to brake and then coast around a corner, but it’s not advised. Just be sure to keep your inputs as smooth as possible.

Steer into the slide

If you drive over black ice and start to lose control, don’t panic and slam on the brakes. The best approach is to gently steer your car into the slide – rather than in the opposite direction – and keep steering until you feel the car straighten up. When doing this, do not take your hands off of the steering wheel or brake heavily. Our in-depth explainer on how to control oversteer and understeer covers this in more detail.

Driving Downhill

Slow down as you approach the hill, leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front, stay in a low gear and maintain a low speed. This will help to prevent potentially disastrous skidding.

Driving Uphill

Leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles – or, if you can, wait until the hill is clear – maintain a steady but sensible speed, stay in a low gear and avoid braking or stopping unless necessary. 

Be wary of the wind

High winds can suddenly impact a vehicle’s handling – particularly taller vehicles. If this happens, reduce your speed and keep both hands firmly on the wheel. Also be on the lookout for hazardous debris in the road.

Stay alert

Driving in adverse conditions requires a lot of concentration, so you might want to factor in some rest stops along the way.

You might be tempted to turn the car heater up to stay warm, but this could cause drowsiness and driving when tired can have fatal consequences, whatever the weather. 

Don’t be afraid to stop

If the conditions become too overwhelming, it’s far safer to stop in a safe place than it is to continue your journey. Look for a car park, service station or side road where you can park up safely and wait it out. Do not stop on the hard shoulder unless it’s an emergency.

Understand your car’s safety systems

Modern cars, and even many older ones, have lots of safety systems designed to help the driver but it’s important for drivers to understand how they work and what happens when they intervene. 

All of the technology below can be a great help when things get challenging on the roads, but driver aids can only do so much. If you don’t have tyres that are designed to handle winter weather, this will severely limit the amount of grip that your car has on the road and the ability of the electronic systems to intervene. 

Investing in a set of winter tyres could mean the difference between safety or potential disaster, so they are highly recommended if you’re planning to brave the snow and ice - especially on a frequent basis. Above all else, though, never use these systems as a substitute for careful driving.

Traction control (TCS)

Traction control is fitted to cars to prevent wheels from spinning up, and this can be the difference between going in a straight line or spinning in a circle on snowy roads. 

If your car’s Traction Control system detects that a wheel is spinning freely, it will temporarily reduce the engine’s power to help that wheel regain traction. When the system operates, a dashboard light will show and you may feel a rumbling sensation.

Anti-lock braking (ABS)

If you need to brake heavily, your anti-lock braking system (ABS) will probably activate. 

In simple terms, ABS uses sensors to detect when a wheel is about to lock up. When this is detected the system will rapidly apply and release the affected wheel’s brakes in order to prevent a skid. During this process you will feel a juddering sensation through the brake pedal, and a dashboard light may also appear. 

ABS is designed to shorten your emergency stopping distance, but it also provides valuable steering control under braking.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/Electronic Stability Program (ESP)

Electronic Stability Control systems go by several different names, depending on your car’s manufacturer, but their basic function remains the same. 

ESC/ESP measures the speed of each individual wheel, the steering input and the angle and direction of the car. If a wheel starts to lose traction, this system works in conjunction with the TCS and ABS systems to apply precise amounts of braking to each wheel and cut the engine power where necessary. 

Hill descent control (HDC)

Hill descent control systems are primarily intended for off-road use, but they can also prove effective when tarmac is buried under snow and ice. If you are about to descend a steep gradient and your car has a hill descent control system, you will first need to stop the car in a safe place and then manually engage the HDC via a button or the touchscreen. 

Once engaged, the car will be limited to a low speed in order to allow the system to function. Sensors will constantly monitor the wheels, and automatically apply the throttle and brakes accordingly to maintain this low speed. You will still need to steer carefully, though.

Four-wheel drive (4x4)

Four-wheel drive is perhaps the most well-known system for handling challenging terrain. Although it’s traditionally associated with big off-roaders, four-wheel drive is fitted to a range of cars including sports cars and supermini-based small SUVs. 

There are a number of different versions of 4x4 systems, along with a variety of names, but the basic principle is the same: when four-wheel drive is in operation all four wheels are driven by the engine and gearbox, resulting in greatly increased traction. 

Get fully prepared for winter by reading more via the links below...

Best winter cars

Get ready for winter on the roads

Top tips for winter driving