With the onslaught of wintry weather, now is the ideal time to give your vehicle the “once over” to ensure it is fit for difficult driving conditions.

Deteriorating weather conditions start to take their toll on the car’s headlights very quickly. Keeping them clean with a wipeover means you will see better and, crucially, you will be seen more easily too.

Checking all the bulbs are all still working at the front and rear only takes a moment. You can sometimes do this by using reflections from shop windows, for example, when you are stuck in traffic.

If your battery is a bit sluggish starting now, get it replaced immediately.

Making that sure your windscreen is clear – with a non freezing, non smearing bottle top up – is essential. Technically it is an offence not to have your windscreen washer working.

Rubber wiper blades themselves should not smear. If they do, try giving the blades a wipe over which might mean that you don’t need to replace them.

There are products available that help create a water resistant film across the outside of the windscreen, which improves visibility by moving water and dirt.

Quite often a film builds up within the screen as well which makes driving at night feels like you are dealing with a series of oncoming blurs.

The onset of wintery weather will also mean your tyres need to be up to scratch. Are the pressures correct? And are the tyres damaged or worn? The legal requirement is a 1.6mm tread depth but in poor conditions you may feel safer with 3mm.

These pre-winter checks don’t take long to do but could means that you and your car are safer on the road.

Driving tip provided by IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists)

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