Families planning to take to the roads over the Christmas period are being urged to take necessary preparations to ensure safe travel.

The Royal Society of Prevention of Accidents (RSoPA) has outlined some winter driving tips ahead of the journeys people will be taking in the snow.

Winter Driving Tips

Before you set off make sure you keep an eye on weather and traffic reports to plan which route you will take, and if this is the safest one.

If you are worried about driving in snowy conditions consider postponing the journey if it is not absolutely necessary – or look into taking public transport.

Drive as smoothly as possible, keeping breaking to a minimum and try to change gear smoothly so you do not make any sudden movements.

Keep your speed down and leave longer for braking, and if you can try and brake naturally, using the brake pedal as little as possible – also remember to leave more space between you and the car in front.

“As well as smooth driving techniques, safer winter driving is about good preparation – making sure you’re in a fit state to drive, that your vehicle is in good condition and that you’ve planned your journey,” said Kevin Clinton, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents road safety head.

Check Car Parts

Take the time to check your car before you leave the house looking at individual car parts and listening to the noise they make when you turn on the engine.

Tyres should have good tread and should be fully inflated to give the best grip on the road.

Drivers should ensure they are ready to drive and are not too tired as driving on snow ridden roads requires a lot more concentration, and can be quite exhausting.

Always keep necessary items in the car boot to help you if you should get stuck in a snow storm, such as a shovel and lots of blankets and some food.

The call for winter tyres to be made compulsory continues as British motorists struggle to drive in current weather conditions.

DIAmond Advanced Motorists is urging the government to raise awareness of the benefits winter tyres make to driving in cold conditions.

They state the public perception is that they are use predominantly for use on snow, whereas the reality is they also provide cars with better handling and braking capabilities when the temperature drops below seven degrees Celsius.

Temperatures in autumn and winter tend to be mostly below this figure so fitting these tyres would be appropriate.

“The economic benefits of vehicles fitted with winter tyres are overwhelming,” said Steve Garrod, DIA general manager.

“There’s a simple solution to many of the problems British road users are currently experiencing – and the government should be more far-sighted in encouraging drivers to fit winter tyres.”

Car Part Maintenance

The AA recently found 44 percent of drivers have done nothing to prepare their motors and certain car parts for severe conditions on the roads this winter.

They showed only three percent had bought and fitter winter tyres, explaining why the country has experienced high breakdown levels recently.

If you have not checked your car before taking to snowy and icy roads take the time ensure everything is in good working order.

If you require any replacement parts such as spare tyres, windscreen wipers, bumpers or even engine and suspension parts all these can be purchased online.

These online stockists hold a large supply of quality car parts for varying make and model cars, so you will always find what you are looking for.

They also come at discounted prices most of the time so you need not worry about money at this time of year, when most people’s purses are stretched to the limit in preparation for Christmas.

Latest statists reveal the number of people owning four or more top-end cars is on the increase.

According to Aviva – car insurance provider, some of their clients own more than 30 high quality cars showing owning multiple motors is no longer something only the A list do.

They showed that these car collections are often more cared for like a treasured piece of art rather than for transport, as staff are employed to look after them for their owners.

The average vehicle mileage is 5000 miles a year for these multiple car owners motors, which is two thirds of the national average.

“The popularity of owning a collection of high value cars is growing among the wealthy of the population generally – it is not simply the preserve of A-list footballers and pop stars,” said Scott Leonard, Aviva high net worth underwriting manager.

“High value cars can be assets that appreciate in value too – some classic cars with famous prior owners have changed hands for millions of pounds.”

This rise is in part thought to be due to investors looking to find new ways to invest their money in the current economic climate as collectable cars hold their resale value.

A typical prestige car amounts to a value of £350,000 which is just over 69 times the value of the average new family car.

Top 10 Prestige Cars

The top 10 prestige cars quoted for in 2010 are:

Porsche

Bentley

Aston Martin

Ferrari

Jaguar

Mercedes

Range Rover

Maserati

Lamborghini

Rolls Royce

Buy Prestige Car Parts Online

If you collect high value cars and require a replacement car part to ensure it retains its value, try investigating online stockists.

The types of spare parts available on the internet range from second hand parts to top end replacement parts for cars such as Porsches and Bentleys.

Top quality second hand cars are predicted to sell for high prices in the New Year as availability of stock dwindles.

According to CAP consumers looking to trade used vehicles with well maintained car parts can expect enthusiastic offers from dealers looking for fresh stock.

This is positive news for motorists following other figures from the CAP Used Car Price Index which revealed a fall in second hand car prices compared to last year in December.

Although three year old cars in most sectors have been trading at lower prices this year than their exact equivalents a year before, this gap has reduced in recent months.

“The New Year will be a good time to trade in a high quality used car,” said Mike Hind, CAP spokesman.

“Our research shows that dealers are currently paying very strong prices to keep their stock levels up and that is unlikely to change any time soon.”

In September the market was 6.6 percent lower than last year, while December stands at just 4 percent lower indicating the market has taken a step forward.

The typical small family car now trades at around five percent less than last December and a large family car at just 4.1 percent lower.

The 4×4s however continue their high performance to end the year with the average second hand model worth almost 10 percent more than in December 2009.

Second Hand Car Parts

If you are looking to sell your car and could do with getting as much money for it as possible it may be worth giving it a bit of a makeover before offering it to traders.

You can buy new or second hand spare parts to replace old or worn ones online for affordable prices which will give your motor an instant lift.

The TyreSafe organisation which aims to raise awareness of tyre care and maintenance has welcomed new vehicle manufacturers to the team.

Toyota and Lexus have joined TyreSafe to help engage and educate drivers into good car tyre practice, and have started highlighting the critical role that tyres play in safe driving with a winter weather tyre programme.

This scheme will inform Toyota owners of the safety benefits of fitting winter tyres to help with grip on snow and ice.

“Tyres remain one of the most critical elements affecting driver and occupant safety,” said Steve Settle, Toyota & Lexus customer services director.

“We hope that through our membership of TyreSafe more drivers will pay attention to the condition of their tyres, helping to save even more lives.”

Car Tyre Safety Tips

Before you drive this winter make sure you have checked your car parts and especially car tyres to ensure they will endure the harsh driving conditions.

If your windscreen wipers are broken for example this could significantly affect your vision when either rain or snow cannot be removed quickly or efficiently, which could result in an accident.

Cold weather and getting stuck in traffic can also cause cars to overheat so if your thermometer starts creeping up divert the hot air by turning up the heat inside the car, it should keep the temperature in the engine down until you start moving again.

For car tyres check regularly for tread depth and tyre pressure.  For the tread the easiest way to check you are above the legal limit is to use the 20p test.

The tyre should have a tread depth of 1.6m across the central three quarters of the entire circumference.

If you can see the outer band of the 20p coin when inserting it into a groove then it is illegal and you should have a professional check them.

A new survey shows the most popular Christmas car part accessories are those which increase the comfort of the driver.

At the top of the Christmas list for car parts were satelight navigation systems (sat navs) with 58 percent voting it the most useful car accessory ever in a Vauxhall Aftersales report.

The recent launch of ‘Snow Socks’ by AutoSock which give better tread for car tyres through ice and snow were also shown to be a top contender.

A further 28 percent of votes went to parking sensor kits which help motorists park their cars in even the tightest of spaces.

Automatic distance regulation for vehicles on the move was also a new popular accessory to enhance the ease and comfort of driving in winter.

The self-cleaning and waxing systems took a significant 39 percent of the votes as many Brits show concern over the damage salt from gritting roads can have on paint work.

Concerning future accessories, many respondents were shown to show high enthusiasm for devices which allow vehicles to run on alternative energy sources.

Other accessories on the list included tow bars, child seats, safety packs, and roof boxes with fluffy dice found to be the least useful accessory.

Car Parts for Driver Comfort

If you are looking to buy your car a gift this Christmas to enhance your comfort while driving, or aid your ability to drive safely on hazardous winter roads try looking online for alternatives at discount prices.

There are many car accessories available online to give your car that extra boost to survive the winter such as new bumper parts, new windscreen wipers, car tyres and even whole body panels.

If your car requires some interior work you can buy car seats or covers from online stockists, and carpet to replace worn or old ones which could give your car an immediate lift.

The TyreSafe organisation which aims to raise awareness of tyre care and maintenance has welcomed new vehicle manufacturers to the team.

Toyota and Lexus have joined TyreSafe to help engage and educate drivers into good car tyre practice, and have started highlighting the critical role that tyres play in safe driving with a winter weather tyre programme.

This scheme will inform Toyota owners of the safety benefits of fitting winter tyres to help with grip on snow and ice.

“Tyres remain one of the most critical elements affecting driver and occupant safety,” said Steve Settle, Toyota & Lexus customer services director.

“We hope that through our membership of TyreSafe more drivers will pay attention to the condition of their tyres, helping to save even more lives.”

Car Tyre Safety Tips

Before you drive this winter make sure you have checked your car parts and especially car tyres to ensure they will endure the harsh driving conditions.

If your windscreen wipers are broken for example this could significantly affect your vision when either rain or snow cannot be removed quickly or efficiently, which could result in an accident.

Cold weather and getting stuck in traffic can also cause cars to overheat so if your thermometer starts creeping up divert the hot air by turning up the heat inside the car, it should keep the temperature in the engine down until you start moving again.

For car tyres check regularly for tread depth and tyre pressure.  For the tread the easiest way to check you are above the legal limit is to use the 20p test.

The tyre should have a tread depth of 1.6m across the central three quarters of the entire circumference.

If you can see the outer band of the 20p coin when inserting it into a groove then it is illegal and you should have a professional check them.

Parents are being urged to get their children to monitor their bad driving habits which can cause damage to car parts and even accidents.

RoadSafe recommends asking children to rate their parents driving on car journeys to help them get out of bad habits, and to get children more aware of car safety measures for when they eventually drive.

Research has shown that when children learn to drive they are more likely to take risks if they have witnessed their parents do so.

Road accidents are the biggest cause of death among children and young people in the UK, making it vital parents do everything in their power to monitor their own driving so they influence their children correctly.

In 2009 more than ten 17-24 year old drivers were killed weekly in car crashes in the UK.

“Encouraging children to assess your skill and behaviour behind the wheel may sound like asking for trouble, but it is a good exercise for the family,” said Adrian Walsh, RoadSafe spokesman.

“They may not be old enough to drive but the sooner you get children interested in safe road use and driving, the better.”

Bad Driving Habits

RoadSafe found the following were the most common dangerous driving habits many motorists fail to correct, which could cause car parts to become worn or damaged, and worse, cause an accident.

Driving too close to the vehicle in front is a common bad driving habit, along with driving at inappropriate speeds, and this is not necessarily too fast but also too slow, forgetting to wear a seatbelt and rushing observations when pulling out and failing to use mirrors.

Approaching junctions too quickly and using a mobile phone while driving were other common bad habits which parents are urged to monitor so their children do no pick them up also.

Motorists admit to having defective car parts a new study reveals with one in three admitting to having damaged windscreen wipers.

With a new wave of bad weather set to hit Britain’s roads motorists are urged to ensure their vehicles are up to the task of facing this, but Kwik Fit shows over 11 million car drivers are making this harder for themselves.

A dirty road spray could put visibility of the road at jeopardy and 56 percent of respondents admitted they do not check their wiper blades from one year to the next.

“In poor winter weather when conditions are already tough the last thing motorists need is impaired visibility,” said Ian Fraser, Kwik Fit chief executive.

“The extra workload placed on wiper blades this time of year can quickly finish them off but replacing them is cheap, quick and potentially lifesaving.”

There are four main wiper blade faults reported in the survey and the main one is where the blades leave smears on the windscreen, accounting for 16 percent of problems.

A further 4.5 million motorists or 13 percent said their blades made a squeaking sound, and one percent reported the wiper blades scratch the windscreen which risks permanent damage.

One million motorists, three percent, said their blades do not clear water away properly.

The study showed motorists under 25 years old were the most likely to have defective wiper blades with 58 percent reporting a problem.

Drivers aged 65 and over meanwhile were shown to take the best care of their wiper blades with 72 percent claiming they are in perfect condition.

Spare Car Parts

If your wiper blades are not in perfect condition for winter it is important you have them replaced so you give yourself the best chance when tackling ice-ridden roads.

Spare car parts including wiper blades can be purchased online for discounted prices so motorists need not worry about dishing out cash which is usually in short supply around Christmas.

New car windscreen glass has been designed to reduce ultraviolet penetration into the front of the car so a driver’s vision is not compromised. Find out more about this great new car part development.

Toyota has announced the details of their new UV glass that is set to reduce UV penetration by approximately 99 percent.

Where to Buy Windscreen Car Parts

Most online stockists can offer motorists a variety of different types of car parts they may require either new or second hand.

If they are second hand make sure the parts come in good condition and check out the return policy before you hand over money.

You can also replace door glass and rear-view glass as well as whole body panels, car engines, suspension parts and many more.

Toyota Windscreen Technology

The company say this new glass will be used in new cars that will be launched next year.

This new technology is thought to produce sunburn protection results equivalent to that of wearing gloves while driving.

These windscreens use laminated glass through the use of a UV-blocking film that is trapped between two sheets of glass.

Door windows on the other hand tend to just use single- piece tempered glass which is instilled with UV absorbing material to achieve 89 percent UV protection.

Buy Car Windscreens Online

If your car windscreen has been scratched or has acquired a crack it is important to get it fixed or replaced altogether.

This is important so the next time something knocks it the windscreen does not shatter in front of you as cracks reduce its durability.

While 99 percent UV protected windscreens will not be available until next year, other high quality made ones can be purchased online for discounted prices.

The motorist need only to order online or phone up a stockist which has the right type of windscreen for the car, and it can be delivered straight to your door.