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Be prepared: is your vehicle ready for winter?

Breaking down is never a pleasant experience – especially if you have to wait for recovery in the cold.

You’ll also want your vehicle to be in the best condition to handle difficult driving conditions in severe weather.

This handy reminder for pre-journey checks is called the ‘POWDERY’ checklist:

  • petrol (or diesel) - don’t run out of fuel

  • oil - check levels once a month

  • water - check radiator and screenwash once a month

  • damage - check wipers, lights etc for signs of wear and tear or damage

  • electrics - check lights, indicators and controls are working properly

  • rubber - are your tyres well inflated, legal, with good tread and free from damage?

  • yourself - are you fit to drive? - have you slept well? - are you taking any medication(s) that could make it unsafe for you to drive?


    Keep these items in your vehicle from the start of winter, you never know when you might need them.

    These include:

  • an ice scraper and de-icer

  • a torch and spare batteries - or a wind-up torch

  • warm clothes and blankets - for you and all passengers

  • boots

  • first aid kit

  • jump leads

  • a shovel

  • road atlas

  • sunglasses (the low winter sun and glare off snow can be dazzling)


Before you set off

In severe and wintry weather it’s even more important to plan your journey. The Highways Agency for example provides the latest traffic situation for England’s motorways and major A roads.

Road and weather conditions may change, drive with care

When you’re on the road, pay attention to the changing road, traffic and weather conditions.

Be ready to slow down and take more care if you need to, particularly on bends and exposed roads. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security - even if you drive every day on the same stretch of road.


Collisions and Incidents

The law defines a reportable road traffic collision as a collision involving a mechanically-propelled vehicle on a road or other public area which causes:

  • injury or damage to anybody - other than the driver of that vehicle

  • injury or damage to an animal - other than one being carried on that vehicle (an animal is classed as a horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog)*

  • damage to a vehicle - other than the vehicle which caused the collision

  • damage to property built on, attached to, growing in, or otherwise forming part of the land where the road is 


What to do if you're involved in a road traffic collision

  • stop at the scene - it is a legal requirement to stop as soon as it is safe to do so

  • switch off your engine

  • switch on your hazard lights

  • check for any injuries to yourself and any passengers

  • exchange details with anyone involved - name, address, car registration number

  • provide your insurance details if requested


If you're having trouble getting these details from someone involved or they have left without giving details, call the police on 101 while you're still at the scene of the collision.


When should I call 999?

  • if someone is in danger

  • if someone has been seriously injured

  • you believe a serious offence has been committed

  • the collision has caused a blockage or dangerous obstruction of the road


How to report your collision

You don't need to report a collision to the police if you've exchanged details, nobody was injured and there are no allegations of driving offences.

You must report the collision to the police if you were unable to exchange details at the scene, if anyone was injured, or if you suspect that the other person may have committed a driving offence. 

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