40% of motorists won’t be prepping their car for winter driving conditions

As British Summer Time officially ends, Go.Compare warns motorists to make sure their vehicle is ready for the winter

With British Summer Time officially ending at 2am on Sunday 27^th October, many motorists will soon be driving in darker, wetter and colder conditions than seen in previous months. But in a recent survey, Go.Compare car insurance has found that as many as 39% of motorists aren’t currently planning on doing any preparation to make sure their car is fit for the winter.*

The experts at the comparison site are encouraging anyone with a car to do some maintenance and preparation now, to make sure their vehicles are ready for the cold season’s unpredictable driving conditions.

Just under half of those who took part in the survey (44%) said that they either have or will be doing some vehicle checks ahead of winter. And of those who said they would be prepping their car, 70% said they’d be making sure their tyres are in a good state, 52% will be checking their wiper blades and a further 48% said they will be reviewing their oil levels.

Tom Banks, Go.Compare car insurance spokesperson, commented: “While you might not be changing the time of day you travel or the routes you take, driving conditions will be changing around you as winter approaches – roads might be slicker due to rain, and your visibility will decrease as days get shorter.

“With this in mind, it’s worth spending a bit of time ahead of the clocks going back just to make sure you’re prepared for the darker, wetter and colder conditions – even if this is just reminding yourself how your fog lights or full beam work.

“It’s also worth taking the time to make sure your tyres, windscreen wipers, bulbs and oil levels are all in a good state of repair before the winter begins, as well as making sure your breakdown cover is still valid and up to date – just in case.”

Go.Compare has compiled a guide for winter driving, which includes some helpful tips for those who will be driving in extreme weather:

• If there’s ice and snow around, make sure you clear your car’s windows, mirrors, numberplate and lights of ice or snow before setting off – and remember it’s illegal to drive with snow on top of your car.
• Be careful not to use warm or boiling water to defrost your car’s windscreen as this can cause it to crack, particularly if it already has a chip or crack in it.
• Give yourself extra time on your journey if you can.
• Don’t leave your car unattended and unlocked with engine running while demisting it, as this could invalidate your insurance if it is stolen.
• Organise an emergency kit to keep in your car. Things such as a blanket, water and some long-life snacks, and even a small spade, will come in handy should you get stuck in your car in cold weather.

For more information and tips for driving in extreme weather conditions, please visit: https://www.gocompare.com/motoring/guides/winter-driving-guide/.