How to drive on icy roads as Met Office issues snow warnings


UK roads are set to become “dangerous” as the Met Office has issued weather warnings for snow and ice across three upcoming days.

The first warning, covering the north of Scotland, kicks in at 4pm on Sunday and is expected to last until 11am on Monday. Some areas could see as much as 10cm of snow, with the Met Office also warning of “icy patches on some untreated roads”.

The second warning spans from Glasgow and Edinburgh all the way down to Huddersfield. It is in place from 10am on Monday through to 10am on Tuesday.

Impacted regions could see snow depths reaching a staggering 20cm, and the Met Office has said driving conditions could turn “dangerous”.

In these icy conditions, the advice is to avoid unnecessary travel. However, should you need to venture out, driving expert Annie Winterburn has revealed essential tips on her TikTok channel (@theorytestpractice).

In a tutorial video, she advises: “When you’re moving away and it’s snowy or icy, it will help if you don’t race the engine, so don’t press too much gas, and use the highest gear that you can.

“While you are driving along, you need to treat every control really, really gently. That is the gas and the brake, and the gears, and the clutch, and the steering. Use them really gently. And stay safe!”

Annie revealed in another video that you need to maintain a 20 second gap between yourself and the car in front in icy conditions, as opposed to the standard two second gap in regular, dry conditions.

The Met Office has its own advice for driving on icy roads too. It says you can “keep yourself and others safe” by:

  • Looking well ahead for potential hazards and keep your speed down.
  • Accelerating, braking, steering and changing gear as smoothly as possible to reduce the risk of a skid.
  • Using a higher gear may be more appropriate to help grip on packed ice.
  • Using a higher gear helps manage engine power making it easier to find traction.



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