08/11/11
By Emma McFarnon
As the nights draw in and temperatures plummet, it's worth giving your vehicle the once over and making sure you're prepared for any car trouble.
Driver training specialist IAM's Drive & Survive report has given drivers some top tips to survive the winter months.
Its head of training, Simon Elstow, said: "Now is the time to start thinking about how to deal with wintry weather, so that when it comes along you are ready for it.
"We all need to respect the weather and make adjustments to deal with it."
As obvious as it sounds, make sure you don't venture out without a de-icer and a scraper. Temperatures can fall quickly and without warning, so you never know when you might need them.
It's vital to ensure your visibility is clear, so clean condensation from all the windows - air conditioning comes in handy when it comes to demisting.
The IAM also advises drivers to check if their vehicle has ABS or ESP, as the systems require a different approach when driving in ice and snow. Consult your manual for further information.
And take extra caution when you set off on level ground or downhill - use second gear, release the clutch and accelerate gently. If possible, avoided parking your vehicle anywhere you have to start uphill.
It's also crucial that you leave a safe distance between yourself and the vehicle in front - stopping distances are increased by up to 10 times in icy conditions.
IAM advises motorists to drive in higher gears, to reduce the chances of wheel spin. And if your car does lose grip, you should take your foot off the accelerator, disengage the clutch and steer smoothly.
