Driving in the snow has been made easier as Vauxhall launches a new gadget to give tyres extra grip to prevent cars from skidding.

A set of snow socks has been invented by Vauxhall to be put on the outside of car tyres as a clever new way of preventing damage to car parts during seasons of heavy snow.

Cited by the RAC, the new car part is a pair of fabric snow chains so car wheels get extra grip when driving on roads thick with snow.

Car insurance claims are expected to fall with the increasing use of this product and some may even reduce their premium if you prove you use them.

Vauxhall claims the fabric snow chains work better than winter tyres and are easier to fit than usual snow chains.

The pieces of fabric are made to go at right angles in the direction of travel so they plough through the snow better.

Using the snow socks should be used only for vital journeys where the weather is severe or where you are likely to drive at a slow speed throughout as they can only be used at speeds of up to 50mph.

A set of two snow socks costs £49.99 and can be obtained from a Vauxhall retailer – they can be used on any model car too.

Check Car Parts for Snow Driving

Before you set off on a journey this winter make sure your car is up to the job as British weather could turn suddenly and you could be faced with harsh driving conditions.

Even though many car owners do not change their car tyres for winter ones as the leaves turn it is still advised you check the condition your current ones are in.

Make sure the tread is above 3 mm and they are fully inflated, it is also worth checking oil levels and screen wash so you are not caught out on a long journey.

Child Safety is being flouted by many British drivers as new research finds one in four are not applying with child-seat laws.

LV=Streetwise showed it was extended family and friends who were most likely to ignore the legislation.

The law states drivers must make sure children under 12 years old and shorter than 135cm (4’5’) use proper car parts, either a child seat or booster seat while travelling in a car.

These measures have reduced the risk of fatality by 71 percent, the Department for Transport Road Casualties in Great Britain showed.

“Many drivers are still confused about the law on child seats and restraint,” said Alison Shelton, LV=Streetwise spokesperson.

“The five minutes it could take to install a child seat and check that everyone is safely secured may make the difference between life and death.”

Over half of motorists admit to never using or not owning a child seat and a fifth said they do not use them on every journey with a young passenger.

The research shows, more than four years on following the new regulations 32 percent of drivers with children are unclear about the new law.

One in five admitted they were unaware a law even existed regarding child seats in cars and one in ten disregarded the seat as they do not think it is necessary or will not make a difference in an accident.

Car Safety Measures

Motorists are urged to comply with legislation on safe driving to ensure their lives and others are not put at risk.

There is an increased risk of serious injury to the driver or front seat passenger also if the backseat passenger is not properly strapped in and thrown forward.

Check your seat belts are working correctly and can be accessed by all passengers, if you have an old car where there are no seat belts in the back you can buy them at a reasonable price online.

The nation’s 10 worst driving habits have been revealed in a new report.

A Telegraph survey with motor insurance AXA has revealed motorists’ frustration when driving largely comes from false expectations and a failure to respect other motorists while on the road.

Just some of the bad driving habits listed in the survey include exceeding the speed limit and not concentrating when behind the wheel.

A significant 46 percent of those surveyed do not hold the steering wheel in the 10-to-two position. The second most common bad habit – among 37 percent of drivers surveyed – was not applying the handbrake at traffic lights.

Accelerating between speed cameras is performed by 31 percent while other bad habits included drinking and eating while driving and using the horn to notify other motorists of their frustration.

Psychologist Dr Peter Marsh, motoring behavioural expert explained that the territory of the car becomes part of the driver when in a vehicle, explaining why drivers often get nervous when someone drives too close to them. 70 percent of the respondents said they hate being tailgated.

Coasting with the clutch down is done by 14 percent of drivers, passing through amber or red traffic lights by 12 percent and seven percent put their car’s nose out at junctions.

Bad Habits Damage Car Parts

If you often coast while driving by putting your foot down on the clutch this could wear down the clutch and the tyres as you will have to brake harder, as opposed to gradually, which the car does automatically when in gear.

Failing to put your handbrake on could cause you to roll back at a junction and hit another car as could driving too close behind someone.

If you need to replace any damaged or worn car parts look online for quality parts at discount prices.

The snowy conditions have caused a surge in breakdowns on Britain’s roads as call outs peaked at 2,500 in one hour on Monday morning.

The RAC figures show Wales, North-East England and the Midlands have experienced the most breakdowns with some rescue areas running twice their levels for a normal Monday morning.

Cars failing to start remains the biggest breakdown problem recorded as low temperatures put pressure on older motor vehicles.

Since the start of the bad weather the RAC states they have rescued more than 50,000 drivers and this figure is set to rise as the snow and cold snap show no sign of abating.

Driving in Hazardous Conditions

If you are setting out on the road in the winter weather, make sure you and your car are prepared for the bad weather. Tyres, engine oil and petrol should be checked often so you are not caught out in the middle of a storm.

Driving on salt gritted roads can also damage car parts such as body work which can become scratched, so too can windscreens and mirrors.

If this happens you can buy replacement parts online at good prices. Damage to windscreens can make driving more dangerous, affect your chances of passing an MOT and obstruct your view of the road.

Give yourself more time for each journey so you do not rush down slippery roads and make sure you scrape off all the snow and ice from the windows of your car before departing. Also ensure your car lights are clear from snow so other drivers can see you.

When driving try and stay in high gears to prevent revving, which may cause the car to slide – do not put the clutch down and coast either, you will lose control of the car by doing this.

Try not to brake too suddenly or forcefully as this could make the car skid or make a skid worse as the tyres are unable to grip the road as effectively.

British motorists are being warned to prepare for the current cold snap before setting off on journeys, but new research shows many have no clue how to check important car parts.

Just under half of the driving population were found by The Co-operative Insurance to have experienced some kind of breakdown with their vehicle.   A further one in 100 had broken down over 10 times.

Worryingly though the majority are unaware of how to check important car parts such as brakes, for which 59 percent cannot check they are working properly, and 49 percent do not know how to change a tyre.

Top of the list is checking brake fluid, which 68 percent of motorists are unaware of how to do, followed by 66 percent who cannot change a fuse and 62 percent unable to check water coolant levels.

“Breaking down can be a stressful event for motorists,” said Grant Mitchell, The Co-operative’s head of motor insurance.

“With the current cold snap; motorists would be advised to check that they have adequate breakdown cover.”

The rest of the top ten motor maintenance mystifiers were: Changing a windscreen wiper, which 55 percent cannot do; 49 percent cannot check the tyre tread depth; 35 percent are unable to check tyre pressure; 29 percent cannot test oil levels, and 27 percent do not know how to top up windscreen wash.

Check Car Parts Are Working Properly

The most common cause of breakdowns according to the data is a flat tyre, accounting for 16 percent, 12 percent are due to flat batteries and electrical faults account for 10 percent.

It is important to learn how to check these vital car parts to prevent a breakdown from happening or to deal with one quickly and efficiently if you are stranded on the road.

If you are having trouble checking these car parts take it to a specialist who may be able to show you how to do it, and if any car parts need replacing you can look online for cheap spares.

Men cherish their cars more than their marriage and even their own children, new research claims.

A shocking new study by Turtle Wax has shown that one in ten male drivers love their car more than their wife or girlfriend and four percent like it more than their kids.

Men are however, not the only ones obsessed with their cars: five percent of women prefer their car to their other half, and even more surprising a quarter said they would save their car before their wardrobe.

A quarter of the men surveyed admitted their car was their most treasured possession and over half said they got jealous when a friend buys a more expensive car than them.

A similar number however think their dream car is out of their reach as it is too expensive to purchase and then maintain.

Children are banned from many cherished cars, the research claims, with a third of men saying they are terrified of the mess they will make.

The same number also admitted to escaping family life occasionally to sit in the motor and listen to music, without actually driving anywhere.

Car Maintenance Tips

If you take pride in your car and enjoy fixing and repairing any faults or worn out car parts try looking online for a good price on top quality spare parts.

Even though many in the survey said their dream car was out of their financial reach, a few adaptions to your current motor can make it look and feel as good as new again.

Interior car parts and upholstery can be purchased at an affordable price from online stockists to re-cover your car seats and even carpet, which can become worn over time.

Car body panel parts can also make an old car look younger and you can even replace your manual windows with electric ones for a small price.

A worrying number of British drivers fail to check their cars in between MoTs new research highlights.

The survey by Kwik Fit showed a fifth of drivers do not make important car part checks on their motors between annual MoTs, which means up to six million people could be completely unprepared for a breakdown.

A further 61 percent of motorists do not check their brakes, 75 percent their battery and 37 percent admitted to never having checked their lights in the last year.

The number who had not checked their tyres in the run up to winter was even more worrying as 33 percent admitted to not doing so making driving on wet, icy or snowy roads even more dangerous.

“Last winter was the most severe for many years, and lots of drivers were caught out,” said Ian Fraser, Kwik Fit’s chief executive.

“We saw too many stories of motorists stranded by the side of the road, or skidding into an accident.”

Breakdown Preparation Tips

Survival pack – Last year saw many motorists stranded at the side of roads unable to move due to heavy snow.  It is important to carry a few essentials to keep you going if this were to happen to you this year – a blanket, some food and a shovel are good basics to keep in your boot.

Carry a Phone – Whenever you leave the house to drive somewhere whether it is a short or long journey always carry a mobile phone on you so you can call for help if you were to breakdown.

Spare Tyres – While many motorists check their tyre pressure for the tyres on the car, a lot forget to do the same with the spare tyre which is not in use.  Make sure this is in good condition for when you may need it.

New research shows motorists are 50 percent more likely to breakdown at home in winter as car parts fail due to cold weather.

The RAC received over 1.35 million calls and attended more than 750,000 breakdowns last winter, with 4^th January being the busiest day seeing 15,000 breakdowns – one of the biggest the company had ever seen.

Analysis revealed Monday was the most common day for motorists to breakdown on.  The top five most common reasons for this were: battery related, tyre related, a road traffic accident, alternator problems, and engine flooding.

“Winter driving proved challenging and unpredictable for many last year,” said David Hawes, RAC regional patrol manager.

“With some weather forecasters suggesting another cold winter motorists would be wise to ensure their vehicles are prepared for winter before the bad weather hits.”

Prepare Your Car for Winter

Check tyre pressure – The tread depth should be 3mm though it is advised to have a deeper tread than this to give you better grip on icy and wet roads.  Check the tyre pressure at a garage and pump it up if it is deflated – this should be done regularly so if you have a puncture you can identify it as soon as possible.

Front and rear wiper blades – It is important to ensure your vision of the road is not impaired when driving in snow or rain, so your wiper blades need be working at their best.

Screen wash – It is illegal to drive without screen wash.  This car part must be topped up regularly as if you are unable to see clearly out of your window due to dirt compromising your vision, you have no way to clean it and could end up in an accident.

Lights – Make sure all your lights are working correctly so you can be seen clearly on the road when it would otherwise be hard to do so, and keep them clean so they stand out as much as they can.

British drivers have been trying to save money on their motoring costs following increasing fuel prices and looming Government spending cuts.

The RAC Report on Motoring 2010 showed half of motorists think the high levels of tax levied on them is meant to act as a deterrent to driving so much.

Many were shown to think more should be done to free up funds to plough into local roads and public transport.

On May 24^th this year the price of a litre of unleaded petrol soared to an average of 120.4p.  A worrying 25 percent have serviced or repaired their car in order to save money following this ‘unaffordable’ rise.

A further fourteen percent have cancelled breakdown cover which is up by 12 percent from last year, and 18 percent have reduced their level of breakdown cover, up by three percent from last year.

Only 28 percent are waiting longer between services this year which is down by 32 percent from last year.

Repairing your car yourself however may not be as cost effective as having good breakdown cover and getting the repairs done by a professional.

If you try to repair a certain car part on your own you could end up causing more damage than was made in the first place which would cost even more to get repaired properly.

How to Cut Costs on Replacement Car Parts

If you are struggling to meet the steep costs of running a motor due to the current economic climate a good way to cut costs on pricey repairs is to search online for cheap car parts.

It is important to make sure you buy quality replacement car parts when your current ones have become worn-out or damaged, however you do not need to pay huge amounts from garages where you are getting it fixed.

Many online stockists have a large number of quality parts suitable for most motorists’ needs and many come at discounted prices with the added benefit that they can be delivered straight to your home.

Many classic cars will be getting ready for their winter hibernation to ensure the harsh cold British climate does not ruin important car parts.

“I’ve come across countless examples of vehicles that have deteriorated more through improper storage than if they’d been driven through a damp British winter on salt-covered roads,” said Mike Williams from Beaufort Restoration Service.

Owners are urged to plan ahead and take the following steps to ensure their motor is fit for driving the next time it hits the roads.

How to Look After Your Car During the Winter

When a car is unused for a number of months certain car parts may become damaged and be less likely to work the next time you want to drive it.

Before you start the engine for the first time after a period of rest take a look at the general condition of the car and any signs of rust or leaks from certain car parts.

While you are inspecting the car you can charge up the battery and clean out battery posts to get rid of any dust or dirt that has accumulated.

Make sure you leave about a quarter of a tank of petrol in the car and not to leave it empty as this may cause rust to form.  It is not recommended to fill up too much however, as petrol deteriorates as it evaporates which it may do over a long period where it is not used.

You should check the oil levels and fill up if necessary, it is also possible oil may have leaked through to the engine cylinders – you may be required to give these a clean before starting the engine.

Take the time to treat the interior upholstery if you have leather seats as it is best to have them prepared for summer when they may become cracked due to the heat.

Lastly, when you start the engine walk around the car and look closely for any leaks and listen to the sound of the engine and how healthy it sounds.  It is important to take the time to do these maintenance checks before you start to drive again to ensure all car parts are working to a high standard for safe driving.