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.

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