replace your tires with winter tires

Before you embark on your journey, study the route ahead and allow enough time to reach your destination. Check local weather reports and traffic updates to anticipate any potential disruptions. Plan your route to favor major roads, since they're much more likely to have been cleared of snow and gritted.

Clear all snow from your car windows, mirrors, lights and the roof before you go; driving with snow on your car is dangerous and potentially a violation of the law. Flurries of snow could fall off your vehicle, for example, and obscure the vision of other drivers.

Top up the windscreen washer reservoir with a strong antifreeze concentration, so it doesn’t freeze on the glass. The inside of the windscreen will need demisting too. It's illegal to drive without full visibility through all the windows on your car.

You'll want to have a full tank of fuel, so take a detour to the nearest gas station before starting the journey properly.

Keep a decent pair of sunglasses handy, which can reduce the glare of low winter sun on the snow. And keep your mobile phone fully charged, with the number of a breakdown provider stored so you can immediately call for help.

To prepare for a potential breakdown on the side of the road, put together an emergency kit of food, drinks, a torch, and extra clothing, and keep it in the trunk. It's also handy to store a high-visibility vest, a warning triangle, and a first aid kit.

When you're ready to get behind the wheel, be sure to wear dry, comfortable footwear. Try to avoid bringing snow with you into the car; puddles will collect when it melts, and the pedals will get slippery.