There are many different factors that may affect you when driving during the Christmas period. You and your vehicle both need to be in a roadworthy condition, remembering that the weather and road conditions can also play a huge role when driving! It is especially important during the winter months that you plan your journeys and make sure you are prepared.

You can always tell it’s nearly Christmas when it becomes frosty and your car is iced over in the morning. Just like your vehicle there is a chance that there is ice on the roads too, so you should drive cautiously, particularly if the weather is poor and your visibility is reduced. Always clear your windscreen and windows fully before setting off.

Make sure you are prepared for breaking down - have a mobile with sufficient battery life and contact numbers in case of a breakdown, some snacks, a hot drink and a blanket. 

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE! Around the festive season drink driving increases to the highest degree. Don’t earn yourself up to a £5000 fine, a minimum driving ban of 12 months and a criminal record - it’s just not worth it! The electronic road signs are brilliant for displaying safety messages and advising us ‘DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE’ and this reminder is particularly used in the winter months, as people drink tremendous amounts of alcohol in this holiday period, whether it be at the Christmas work party or just a night out with friends, after all ‘tis the season to be jolly.

The official legal limit for drivers in GB is: 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood and 107 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine. However, any amount of alcohol will affect your driving whether you are over the limit or not, so it is advisable that if you are driving not to consume any alcohol at all, after all you don’t want to run the risk of putting yourself or others in danger.

 There is no definitive way to stay below the limit as alcohol affects us all differently depending on your weight, age, gender, metabolism speed, stress level, recent food consumption and the type of alcohol you’re drinking. And even if you are below the limit your reaction time would have still been reduced, thus disorientating your judgement. Don’t run the risk. Organise a designated driver, arrange a lift, find a local taxi number or find out what local public transport you can take before you go out and if you do arrange a designated driver don’t offer or tempt them to drink.

Even if you’re not driving, ensure that the person that is driving hasn't been drinking either. You should also be careful when driving the day after a night out, since if you have consumed excessive amounts of alcohol there’s a good chance you’ll still be over the limit the next day, this is because alcohol takes time to work through your system, and no amount of coffee or food will sober you up. If you are ever in doubt, don’t drive.

DON’T DRIVE TIRED! Throughout the Christmas period many of us drive for a long period of time to visit family or go away on holiday. You should never start any trip, especially a long one, if you’re already tired. You should always plan your journey to include at least a 15 minute break approx every 2 hours and just remember that if you are getting up earlier than you typically do you may become fatigued before you would usually. If you do start to feel tired, find the nearest safe place to stop and have a rest, drink a high-caffeine drink and allow at least 10 minutes for the caffeine to kick in before setting off again. However, you shouldn't use caffeine as a substitute for sleep, only sleep will really cure tiredness – a caffeine drink or a nap is only a short term solution.

TIP – If the journey is excessively long, consider having more than one driver and take it in shifts to drive.

It’s getting to that time of the year when the weather is perfect for a great family day out or holiday and that includes the family pet. Many of us aren’t aware of the risks we are taking when travelling with pets or leaving them in the vehicle. Just by taking a few precautions you can save a lot of hassle and in some cases lives!

There is guidance in the Highway Code relating to travelling with animals, which is as follows:

Rule 57 “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”

Securing your animal in your car There are a number of different ways you can restrain your pet comfortably but securely whilst travelling, which will ensure the safety of you, your passengers and the animal itself.

 Fact:  A dog could have the weight equivalent of a baby elephant when being thrown forwards in an accident situation.

This is why it is imperative to secure your animal correctly and securely as this could result in serious injuries or even death.

Travelling containers/crates/carrier boxes are the most popular use of restraints when transporting domestic animals. When transporting a pet in one of these you must ensure that the animal has enough room to sit, stand up and lie down fully and be able to move around freely.  You should also make sure that your animal can see outside the container and that there is sufficient ventilation and airflow.  Bedding that doesn’t slip should be placed on the floor of the container also.

Popular harnesses for dogs are the extended seat belt restraints. If you use this method, you need the correctly sized restraint for your dog and need to fit it correctly otherwise they’ll not be securely or comfortably held.

Not only is it important to have your dog secured in case of an accident but it’s essential to prevent the animal being a distraction to you or other road users. E.g. if your dog is hanging out the window this could distract another road user causing them to crash.

Pet travel sickness Alike to us, animals can get travel sickness too. Not only is this unpleasant for your dog but your passengers too, to prevent this don’t feed your animal a big meal before travel and perhaps give them something to chew on or a toy to distract them from the motion of the journey. Most animals will become accustomed to travelling after a few journeys, however if they persist to get ill consult your vet.

When travelling with your animal always keep a bottle of water and a small bowl to hand in order to keep your pet hydrated sufficiently. When a dog is under stress they are likely to pant excessively and because dogs use panting to keep themselves cool, they will lose heat and hydration, so by keeping some water handy you can keep your dog content. Also stopping for a drink occasionally on a long journey will give your dog a chance to walk about and stretch – and I’m sure you’ll welcome this too!

DON’T LEAVE YOUR PET IN YOUR VEHICLE
A common mistake many pet owner’s make is to leave their animal in the vehicle whilst they ‘just’ pop into the shops. It is important that you do not under any circumstances leave your animal in the vehicle even if you do leave the windows open a couple of inches.

We all know how hot your vehicle can get when you first get into it on a hot summers day. Surprisingly, the temperature in your vehicle can soar to as high as 47°c on a hot day. You wouldn’t want to endure such heat in a confined space with hardly any or no air ventilation, so why allow your pet to? Pets have died from being left in cars, so not only is it unfair to your pet, but you can also face prosecution and/or a fine for neglect to animals.

Don't do it yourself!

Gone are the days where cars were 70-80% mechanical - when DIY mechanical repairs were reasonably straight forward, if you're mechanically minded that is.

Modern day vehicles now have several on-board computers and electrical components that can make fault diagnosis a little tricky, especially without a qualified technician and/or bespoke equipment.

Reasons why car maintenance is impractical
Modern vehicles are just as mechanical as before but now have just as many electrical components also. Newer vehicles have several ECUs (engine control units), a small handful of these are for example:

- ABS
- Engine management
- Auto gearbox
- Manual gearbox
- Central control
- Air bag
- ESP
 and so on. In some cases the failure or absence of one control unit can cause the failure of other systems.

If you have a warning fault light illuminate on your dash it is imperative that you have it diagnosed as soon as possible at your local specialist, using your vehicle's manufacturer's diagnostic equipment to enable an accurate, quick and cost effective solution.

To save money many DIY mechanics will spend money on the basic code readers, which are easily accessible from well known sites like EBay, to diagnose a fault on their vehicle themselves. However, these readers are often basic and a multi-make system thus not giving a clear diagnosis. Many readers have a literal translation from a European language (e.g. French) to English because many of the vehicle's components are manufactured in Europe. This can in turn make interpreting the results very hard to understand, even for the professionals.

An example of a common misconception using the basic code readers is that many coil packs on the Peugeot and Citroen ‘TU' engines [1.1, 1.4 & 1.6] were replaced unnecessarily as the actual fault lied with the fuel injectors.

COMMON DIY MISTAKES
Something as ‘simple' as replacing a bulb is often carried out incorrectly. If headlamp bulbs are fitted incorrectly (upside down) there are many repercussions.  Firstly it's an MOT failure, secondly the headlamp aim will be incorrect thus blinding other road users and thirdly it may burn out the light unit. Another common fault with renewing bulbs is when replacing the two pin bulbs in the rear (i.e. brake lights and sidelights) the pins can easily be bent causing interaction with other lights. For example, when applying the brakes the indicators can illuminate as well as the brake lights.

Another common mistake DIY mechanics can make is replacing a fuse that's of a higher amp rating than the original fuse fitted, which can cause the wiring to burn out resulting in a more costly repair - if you are ever unsure of what fuses are needed for your vehicle consult your local garage.

Many new vehicles are now built with a Key-Free System and Power Starter Button, so getting into your car is more convenient and simple, but how safe is it?

KEYLESS ENTRY
The keyless entry system allows you to lock and unlock your vehicle, without even taking your key out of your bag or pocket. This works by sensors on the car detecting a signal emitted by the vehicle’s key, when it’s a certain distance from the car, and activates the locking mechanism accordingly.

POWER STARTER BUTTON
With a Power Starter Button you no longer need to insert the key into the ignition to start the car. Once inside the car with your key, to start the engine all you need to do is simply push the Starter Button while holding down the clutch or brake pedal if it’s an automatic.

NEW: ‘KICK’ OPEN BOOT
A kick-activated tailgate has recently been unveiled. Similarly to the keyless entry, with this you are able to open and close the boot by simply waving your foot underneath the rear bumper. This feature is to aid those who are carrying something that they need to put in the boot without the necessity to put the item down.

HOW SAFE IS KEYLESS ENTRY & START?
Keyless car entry systems were designed to make it easier getting into your car, but could it also make it easier for criminals to gain access to your car as well?

The keyless entry system works on a signal output from the key to your car.  By being in a close proximity to your vehicle the locking mechanism will act accordingly. The danger of this is that people, particularly women, are at risk of being attacked by a thief when accessing their vehicle. Organised criminals will watch car parks in particular to find out which cars have keyless entry.  Once in the vehicle they’ll be able to use the keyless Power Start Button, as they’ll still be within close proximity of the key, and it won’t become an issue of not having the key until they turn the engine off.

Alternatively, criminals will find a way of intercepting the key signals and increasing the signal so that the distance from the car to access is greater. They can then access keyless vehicles without the owner being in a close proximity, preventing the need to attack them. The only way to protect from this is to have some sort of shield on the key to prevent it emitting a signal once the vehicle is locked, however, to have this you’ll have to know where the key is, therefore eliminating the use for a keyless entry system.

In summary, these vulnerabilities should give the manufacturers a pause for thought, before they add another ‘convenience’ feature to vehicles.

Using a hand held device whilst driving or riding a vehicle is incredibly dangerous and also illegal. If you’re caught using a mobile phone when driving you could be prosecuted.

THE DETAILS
Whilst driving, you must not use your hand-held mobile phone, smartphone or PDA to:
- Make or receive calls
- Send or receive text messages (including picture messaging)
 Or
 - Access the internet

This includes when you have stopped at a set of traffic lights or if you are queuing in traffic.

THE PENALTIES
If you're caught using a hand-held device whilst driving you’ll incur an automatic fixed penalty notice, which is: 3 penalty points on your driving licence and a fine of £60.

However, if your case goes to court you may be faced with disqualification from driving and a maximum fine of £1000.  The fine maximum increases to £2500 if you are driving a bus or goods vehicle.

NOTE:  If you’ve passed your test within the past 2 years and have 6 or more penalty points you’ll lose your licence and will be required to retake your driving test in order to have your licence back.

WHY IS IT DANGEROUS?
- Using a hand-held mobile or device will distract you
- You won’t have full control of the vehicle with one hand on the steering wheel
- Your reaction times can be up to 50% slower than that of someone who is driving normally if you use a hand-held device.
- You are 4 times more likely to crash if you are using a mobile phone whilst driving
-  Think! Even the best of drivers can be distracted easily by a text or call, the moment lapse of concentration could easily result in a crash.

WHEN IS IT ACCEPTABLE TO USE A DEVICE IN YOUR VEHICLE?
- In state of a genuine emergency you’re able to call 999 but only if it’s unsafe to stop.
- If you are a passenger, unless you are supervising a learner driver.
- If you are parked safely – not on the hard shoulder of the motorway (unless it’s a genuine emergency)
- If your device (mobile/sat-nav/radio) is hands-free! However, if the police feel that you are not in control of the vehicle you can still face the same penalties.

ADVICE
If someone calls you whilst you’re driving and you don’t have hands-free you should ignore the call and should only listen to the answer message or take the call once you’re safely parked. Even if your device is hands-free you should still inform the other person you’re driving and arrange a different time to take the call.

Using a hand held device whilst driving or riding a vehicle is incredibly dangerous and also illegal. If you're caught using a mobile phone when driving you could be prosecuted.

For many people their car is one of the most expensive things they own, so avoid becoming a victim of car crime by following the tips below...

-  Ideally a garage would be the safest place to park your vehicle over-night. However, most motorists will only have access to park their vehicle on a driveway, if this is the case you could install motion sensitive lighting around the vehicle to deter thieves. If you are only able to park your vehicle on the street ensure it is left in a well lit area that has CCTV surveillance around the local area whenever possible.

-  Look after your keys. One of the easiest ways for a thief to steal your vehicle is to have the keys. Avoid leaving them in a visible or easily accessible place in your house and the common mistake of leaving them on a table when you’re ordering food/drink as this is an open invitation for someone to just take them.

-  It is advisable that you have an alarm fitted to your vehicle. Most vehicles will have a factory-fitted alarm as standard but if you don’t have one then you may want to consider having an after-market alarm fitted. Having an alarm fitted to your vehicle can also reduce the cost of your insurance, depending on the type and quality of the alarm fitted this can greatly reduce your premiums - car alarms vary from detecting a broken window to someone opening the bonnet so be sure to ask your insurer.

-  Opportunist thieves break into vehicles to steal anything from your radio to a handbag. Eliminate the temptation. Remove any portable items from your vehicle when you leave it, this includes even empty bags. If you are unable to take these items with you lock them away out of sight, preferably in the boot rather than the glove compartment. For peace of mind you could even empty the glove compartment and leave it open to show you have no valuables locked away there. If you have a portable Sat-Nav make sure you put the holder out of sight and wipe any suction marks from the windscreen if necessary.

-  An immobiliser fitted to the vehicle can deter criminals from stealing your vehicle but not breaking into it, as this only prevents the vehicle from starting. Having an immobiliser can also reduce your insurance premiums as well, providing that it is approved by the insurer.

-  Be wary of number plate theft, if your number plate is stolen you should report it to the police straight away however trivial it seems, as you could incur unwanted penalty charges for speeding, parking, etc. and even be associated with a criminal offence.

-  Steering wheel, handbrake and gearstick locks are a relatively cheap way of deterring thieves, but do they work? Thieves can easily remove them within minutes, but you could still use them as an extra deterrent because they are likely to put off most opportunist and inexperienced criminals.

All of the above can’t guarantee that your vehicle won’t be subject to crime however, by following the above tips you’ll be making it difficult for criminals, which will reduce the risk of your vehicle being broken into or stolen. Taking some of these measures may also reduce your insurance premiums so be sure to ask your insurer.

Finding the right tyres for your car and ensuring they are to a satisfactory and legal standard is essential for keeping you safe on the road, and by doing this it will also improve your driving experience.

In the UK you are required by law to replace your tyres when the tread depth reaches 1.6mm or less and they must not have any cuts, bulges or cord/ply showing.

If you are uncertain of what condition your tyres are in, check with your local garage and they’ll advise you accordingly.

FINDING THE RIGHT TYRE
Before looking for new tyres you need to find out what type and size of tyre your vehicle requires, you can find the recommended tyre size and road speed in your vehicle’s manufacturer’s specifications.  If you don’t have this information, then refer to the size on the tyre sidewall or consult your local garage.

It’s important to note that although a tyre’s brand name may not be well known that does not necessarily mean the tyre build quality is poor and although two different sized tyres may be of the same brand that does not guarantee they are of the same quality. In the EU tyres are not required to have a wear rating as they are in America. It may be beneficial to buy tyres that are marketed for America as well as the EU, thus have a wear rating e.g. Nexen Tyres.

Please note: if you have bought a second hand car there is no guarantee that the tyres on the vehicle are to the manufacturer’s recommendation therefore, if you are ever in doubt consult your local garage.

See below for an explanation of what the writing on your vehicle‘s tyres means:

205/65 R 95 V

205: This is the width of the tyre tread in millimetres

65:  Is the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the tyre tread, in this instance 65% of 205mm

R: R stands for radial; this is the construction of the tyre

16: The diameter of the tyre’s inner rim in inches

95: Is the load rating of the tyre, this is the weight the tyre is designed to support.

V: This letter refers to the maximum speed the tyre is designed to withstand when the vehicle if fully loaded (see below for the most common speed rating lettering)

S – 112 mph

T – 118 mph

H - 130 mph

V – 149 mph

Z – 150+ mph

W – 168 mph

Y – 186 mph

WHAT TYRES DO YOU REQUIRE?
If you drive a few thousand miles a year, mostly in a rural area, and never drive over 100mph then standard tyres in mid-price range should suffice. However, if you normally travel on motorways or at speed, finding the right tyre with an extended tread life will allow you to avoid changing your tyres as often, saving you money and time in the long run. Consult your local garage for advice.

Another factor to take into consideration, when finding the right type of tyre for your vehicle, is the typical weather for your location. In the UK, rain and wet weather is common, so it is best to find tyres that are well suited to provide good grip in this type of weather and still perform well.

ADVICE: It is good practice to rotate the tyres in the best condition to the front of your vehicle, this is because the majority of vehicles are front wheel drive, therefore the front wheels tend to wear faster as they are do a larger amount of work compared to the rear i.e. steer and do most of the braking.

NEW EU TYRE LABELLING REGULATION (EC 1222/2009) As of 1st November 2012, all tyres manufactured after 1st July 2012 are required to have a rating for 1 - Fuel efficiency, 2 -Wet grip and 3 – External rolling noise.

Fuel Efficiency – this is graded using a scale of A – G. ‘A’ being the most efficient and ‘G’ being the least efficient. [‘D’ is not used in this grading].

Wet Grip, also known as braking performance on a wet road – is graded using a scale of A – G. ‘A’ being shortest braking distance and ‘G’ being longest. [‘D’ & ‘G’ are not used in this grading].

External Rolling Noise – this is measured in decibels (dB) and categorised in 3 classes which are illustrated by 3 waves. 1 wave being a quieter tyre and 3 being louder. 

Spare Tyres Is a spare tyre part of the MOT test? The simple answer is no, however under the Road Traffic Act it is illegal to carry a defective spare tyre.

Space saver tyres are legal to carry as a spare and to use on the vehicle in the short-term, ie until it is convenient to get a replacement tyre fitted, but if the vehicle is presented for an MOT with a space saver tyre fitted then it would fail as a result.

If the spare tyre is suspended in a cage under the vehicle these can be subject to theft and there are some excellent locking devices which can be fitted to eliminate this problem.

The safety features in and on your vehicle vary dependent upon the age, make and model of the vehicle. As technology develops so do the safety features, modern day vehicles have more advanced safety features fitted as standard and may offer better protection in the event of a crash then their older counterpart.

There are two different types of safety features which are as follows:
Primary – these features are designed to help avoid a collision e.g. brake lights as these warn other road users that you are slowing down or stopping.
Secondary – these features are designed to reduce injuries to you and your passengers at the time of an impact e.g. seat belts which restrain you from coming out your seat on impact.

Before you buy a vehicle you should take it for a test drive to trial the various safety components. The following items can be tested just by test driving:

- Check that all lights are working correctly and that you have a clear vision of the road

- The brakes should be firm, not spongy and the vehicle shouldn’t pull to one side when applying the brakes.

- You feel comfortable with the position of the steering wheel – some cars have adjustable steering if necessary

- You can reach any necessary controls you may require

- You have the ability to adjust the seat so that you feel comfortable when driving – including the head restraint (the most ridged part of the head restraint, the middle, should be level with the top of your ear and eyes).

- Have good visibility of all the instruments

- Have a clear vision all the way around the vehicle – the head restraints shouldn’t block your vision

- Do you feel in control of the vehicle when driving?

If you are worried about the safety of your vehicle, take it to your local garage for a complete vehicle inspection to check the vehicle’s operation and mechanical condition. Please note that an MOT pass certificate only indicates the vehicle is roadworthy at the time of testing, and does not indicate a clean bill of health necessarily for the next few months.

SAFETY FEATURES

Seatbelts – one of the most obvious safety devices on the vehicle, this safety feature has been in place for over 30 years and seatbelts are constantly being upgraded to provide better security in case of impact. Seatbelts are fitted with pre-tensioners and grabbers that take up any slack from the seatbelt just at the point of impact in a crash. Lap and diagonal seatbelts are now commonly used for the centre rear seat in the vehicle, replacing just the singular strap across the lap. Seatbelts now also have limiters which prevent the belt pulling too harshly on your chest on impact.

Air bags – These are an additional safety feature commonly used in modern day vehicles – some vehicles even having up to 6 airbags. These airbags can be located in the steering wheel, dashboard or door (or in the edge of the roof above the doors). The airbags inflate on impact which gives extra protection to the passengers wearing seatbelts.

Anti-lock brakes (ABS) – ABS helps you uphold steering control under emergency braking and has been set as a standard safety feature on all new cars since 2004.

Electronic stability control (ESC) – ESC detects when you are about to lose control of the vehicle as it senses the difference between your intended course and the car’s actual course. When you are about to lose control it automatically applies braking to individual wheels to help stabilise the vehicle.

Tyre pressure sensors – These sensors monitor the pressure in the tyres which will give you an early warning of a puncture - low tyre pressure will adversely affect the handling and braking of the vehicle in an emergency.

CRASH TESTS - EUROPEAN NEW CAR ASSESSMENT RATINGS (EURO NCAP)

A crash test is the only consistent way of finding out how well the vehicle structure absorbs the collision impact without crushing the passenger compartment. The test will also indicate how well your safety features (e.g. airbags) can protect the vehicle's passengers. The crash tests are carried out by Euro NCAP which rate the vehicle’s overall protection using a star rating (maximum 5 stars) taking into consideration the protection it provides for an adult occupant, a child occupant and the protection for pedestrians. It is also rated on the driver assistance and active safety technology systems.

Here is a list of the rated French cars that have been crash tested since 2009 (click the models for a further detailed result, pictures & videos). The rating system changed in 2009 click for an explanation of the new and old rating system. Please note, not all vehicles have been tested since the change in the rating system.
***** AWARDED 5 STARS *****
Citroen DS4 tested in 2011
Citroen DS5 tested in 2011
Citroen C4 tested in 2010
Citroen C4 Picasso tested in 2009
Citroen C5 tested in 2009
Citroen DS3 tested in 2009

Peugeot 208 tested in 2012
Peugeot 3008 tested in 2009
Peugeot 308 tested in 2009
Peugeot 308CC tested in 2009
Peugeot 5008 tested in 2009
Peugeot 508 tested in 2011

Renault Grand Scenic tested in 2009

**** AWARDED 4 STARS ****
Citroen C-Zero tested in 2011
Citroen C3 tested in 2009
Citroen C3 Picasso tested in 2009

Peugeot iOn tested in 2011

Renault Fluence ZE tested in 2011

*** AWARDED 3 STARS ***
Citroen Nemo tested in 2010

If you haven’t got a French car or your particular model isn’t displayed above, click here to find out your vehicle’s rating.

It is imperative that your vehicle is in safe condition all year round, however it is especially important in the winter months as the weather conditions worsen.
Things to check:
Tyres, Fluid Levels, Lights, Battery, Heating, Windscreen Condition.

Take advantage of our free winter check service.

Winter Servicing Your Car - A Useful Checklist
TYRES
Check the condition of your tyres – ice and poor weather conditions on the roads seriously affect the grip your tyres have on the road. Ensure you have at least the minimum legal requirement tread depth of 1.6mm on your tyres but it is recommended you should have between 2 -3 mm of tread in those winter months. It’s not just the tread you have to check - see if there are any bulges, cracks or foreign objects in the tyre and check that the tyre pressures are correct as well (see your manufacturer's guide) And don’t forget to check over the spare tyre too!

FLUID LEVELS
ANTIFREEZE
The antifreeze level should be kept topped up in the winter to protect the water in your engine from freezing. When topping up your antifreeze make sure you use the correct specification for your vehicle - find this in your manufacturer’s guide. Check that your car, van or 4 x 4’s antifreeze will protect against those lowest of temperatures in winter by taking your vehicle to your local garage.

BRAKE FLUID (& BRAKES)
When visibility is reduced and road surfaces are icy you need to have reliable brakes so ensure the brake fluid level is correct and check the condition of your brakes, alternatively take your vehicle to a garage to have your brakes tested professionally.

WASHER FLUID (& WIPERS)
In those winter months you’ll tend to use your washer fluid more frequently, keep the level topped up with screen wash to avoid freezing which will also help clear your screen on those frosty mornings. Your front and rear wipers should also be in good condition, make sure they are not cracked or perished and clear the windscreen efficiently.

OIL
check the level of oil and top up if necessary to avoid any damage to the engine. To help you gauge how much to fill up your oil, on average the amount of oil between the min and max level is approximately 1 litre.

LIGHTS
As the days become shorter and nights become longer you’ll need to ensure all your lights are working correctly before you set off. This includes your hazard, fog, brake and reversing lights these are essential especially with poor visibility weather conditions – keep your lights clean too for maximum visibility.

BATTERY
Starting your vehicle in the cold weather puts a strain on your battery as well as the increased use of demisters and lights - have your battery tested to make sure it is in good condition and replace if necessary.

HEATING
Test your heated windows and demisters before the winter weather kicks in so you have enough time to get it repaired if necessary. You should also leave your air conditioning on for at least half an hour per week when driving in the winter, this will keep it working correctly and will also help to defrost the car.

WINDSCREEN CHIPS
If you have any chips in your windscreen you should have them repaired before the winter months, this is because the icy weather can cause them to turn into cracks by the freeze-thaw method.  Your windscreen provides just under a third of your vehicle’s structural strength therefore it is essential to repair a chip. They are relatively cheap to repair, or free if you’re covered by your insurance and take very little time to repair, whereas a crack is difficult to repair and will usually result in the renewal of your windscreen instead.

Advice for travelling by car in winter 
Before setting off on any journey in the winter check the weather and traffic forecast, if the weather is poor try not to travel further than necessary, if at all. If it is essential that you must drive in the ice, snow and fog follow these tips:

• Allow extra time to arrive at your destination taking into consideration the time it’ll take to de-ice your car and a slower speed you may have to travel at.
• Clear your front and rear windscreens fully before leaving.
• Keep to or drive slower than the speed limits.
• Avoid heavy acceleration or braking – keep in mind that the stopping distance will have increased in these conditions.
• Make sure you use the correct lights, especially when visibility is poor i.e. fog lights on when visibility is less than 100m.
• Avoid erratic steering and taking bends or corners too fast, you should brake early and decelerate gradually.
• Take supplies with you – a blanket, flask full of a hot beverage and some food just in case you break down or get caught in traffic. Also keep a first aid kit in your vehicle as well.
• Keep a red warning triangle sign in your vehicle in case of a breakdown. Most new vehicles now come with a red warning triangle already installed in one of the compartments of your vehicle, usually found in the boot. This is because it is now a legal requirement in most European countries to carry these in case of breakdown.
• Finally, ensure you tell someone where you’re going, take a phone if possible (that has a substantial amount of battery) and know a recovery number.