Winter driving advice and four wheel drive cars: 2 ways to stay safe in the snow

With wintry weather affecting many parts of the East Midlands over recent weeks, driving in ice and snow has been particularly treacherous. And. amber weather warnings have resulted in many motoring organisations recommending that all but essential travel is avoided. But, sometimes you have no choice but to drive in snow. So, we’ve provided some seasonal advice for you if you have to travel in wintry conditions. As well as issuing some great tips for driving safely, we have also seen a rise in demand for front and four wheel drive cars over recent weeks as drivers look to stay safe in these Arctic conditions. “If your front wheels skid in ice or snow, you should take your foot off the accelerator but don’t try to steer straight away,” says Richard Hobbs, Group Used Car Manager at Sandicliffe, the local used car expert. “As the wheels skid sideways, your car will slow down and you will start to regain traction. Then, steer in the direction you want to go, release the clutch and accelerate gently.

“When driving on icy and snowy roads you should also decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. Brake gently to avoid skidding, turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other drivers and make sure your lights and windscreen are kept clear and clean.” Over recent weeks we have also seen an upturn in demand for front wheel and four wheel drive cars as snowy conditions bite. Front wheel drive cars have an advantage in slippery conditions such as ice or snow because more weight is over the drive wheels and this reduces slip during acceleration. Four wheel drive cars have all four wheels powered by the engine at the same time and this helps traction. “Four wheel and front wheel drive cars certainly have some advantages when driving in wintry conditions,” adds Mr Hobbs. “At Sandicliffe we stock hundreds of four and front wheel drive cars, 4x4s and SUVs and so we have something for everyone. If you have to travel in snow or ice then you should not only take heed of our winter driving advice but also consider a new or used car that’s suited to these types of condition.”