AA tells drivers to keep 1 household item in their cars ‘at all times’ | UK | News

Drivers are being urged to take extra care when travelling around Britain as temperatures drop below 0C.

To help keep everyone safe on the roads, the AA has issued a statement about a common household item that drivers should never leave home without, saying you never know when it might come in handy.

In a statement about winter driving, they said: “Roads can be dangerous in winter when there is snow, ice or sleet. Our top tip is to take it slow.

“Stopping distances can be up to 10 times longer in icy conditions. Gentle manoeuvres and slow speeds are key to safe driving on ice and snow.

“During the winter cold season, do not drive if you are feeling unwell or taking medication that could make you drowsy, as this may affect your reaction times.”

If you find yourself stuck in snow or ice, you might start revving the engine, hoping to build up enough speed to drive straight out of trouble.

However, the AA has issued the following advice instead: “If you get stuck, straighten the steering wheel and clear snow away from the tyres.

“Place a sack or an old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres extra grip.”

But this isn’t their only advice, as they also urge drivers to allow themselves an extra 10 minutes before setting off, as this time may be needed to properly de-ice the car.

Before you set off

• Allow extra time for winter journeys.
• Plan your route using major roads, which are more likely to be cleared and gritted.
• Try to get up at least 10 minutes earlier to give yourself time to de-ice your car.
• Wear comfortable, dry shoes when driving so your feet don’t slip on the pedals.
• Check your fuel level and keep at least a quarter of a tank in case of unexpected delays.
• Clear all windows using a scraper and de-icer, and wait until the windscreen is fully demisted before driving off.
• If you drive an automatic, check the handbook – some vehicles have a winter mode or recommend selecting ‘2’ in slippery conditions.

What should you keep in your car for winter driving?

There are a few essentials worth carrying during the winter months to help you cope with ice, snow and darker nights. These include:

• An ice scraper
• De-icer
• A torch with spare batteries
• A first aid kit

You should also carry a fully charged mobile phone and a power bank. This allows you to let friends or family know if your journey is taking longer than expected, or to call for help in an emergency.

Sharing their own driving advice, one Reddit user said: “Manually pull your wipers free from the icy windshield by hand- if you turn them on and they’re frozen in place you’ll break their motor then it’s an expensive trip to the garage for you.

“Also, traffic can be very slow moving in snow. Don’t do what I did when I’d only just started driving- I turned the engine off to save fuel while stuck in a queue, but left the heater on and killed the battery. Ended up broken down and blocking a lane of the ring road for 3 hours until the RAC came to give me a jump, freezing my tits off during the wait.”

Another user added: ” Buy a windscreen cover. They save so much time on a morning and it also stops condensation on the inside too. Best thing I ever bought”

A third user said: ” I had to drive to work in snow early last year. It’s a 12 mile journey in country A roads. It normally takes me 25-30mins. It took me over 90 mins. Crawled along at 15mph or less. I hated every moment, but had to be there. I didn’t care what time I arrived, just that I arrived.”