Have you sorted your essential winter driving kit

The temperatures are dropping and the nights are getting longer – are you and your vehicle prepared for the worst or will you be left in the snow without a shovel this winter?

It might sound as if we’re expecting you to fill your car with half of the contents of your garage, and it is true that many winters may pass without you needing any of the kit we propose you keep in your car. But unless you’re Mary – or Gary – Poppins, you may find yourself in a spot of bother if your car breaks down or you get stuck because of fog, torrential rain, ice or snow and you can’t magically pull a tow rope and jump leads out of thin air.

Plus forecasters are predicting that winter 2015 will be the coldest and snowiest Britain has seen in 50 years. Flashback to five years ago, when in 2010, extreme snowfall closed roads and brought trains and motorways to a complete standstill. It included the UK’s coldest December since Met Office records began. Vehicles were trapped on the M8 for more than 10 hours, Eurostar rail services were cancelled and Gatwick Airport and Edinburgh Airports were both closed all day on December 1 st . A total of 19 people died as a direct result of the icy temperatures and treacherous conditions.

This winter may be worse.

Suddenly the idea of having a winter kit in the car, just in case, doesn’t sound so silly, does it?

Winter driving kit checklist

Hopefully, if the weather does turn treacherous, you won’t need to get into your vehicle. However, the fact is that some of us have to get into the car whatever the weather. And even if you end up being delayed for a minor reason, the chances are that you may have to wait several hours until any blockage and traffic clears.

Make sure you are equipped to deal with any delays by having the following in the boot of your car at all times:

• De-icer and scraper
• Fully charged mobile phone
• Contact details for breakdown service
• Torch
• Warm clothing and a pair of sturdy boots
• Hi-vis jacket
• Emergency warning triangle
• Snow shovel
• Tow rope
• Jump leads
• Travel rug or blanket
• Snow chains for tyres
• High energy food – cereal bars etc
• De-icing salt
• Spare car bulbs
• Tyre inflator

Is your vehicle winter ready?

It’s all very well being prepared in case another vehicle causes a delay, but what if the vehicle in question is yours? Is your car ready for the winter months?

In order to ensure you minimise the chance of breaking down, you need to check your vehicle’s:

• Antifreeze
• Battery
• Fuel
• Lights
• Tyres
• Windscreen
• Screenwash
• Locks and door seals

Keep plenty of fuel in your tank in case of any delays, use a 50/50 mix of screenwash to reduce the chance of it freezing, and remember that a squirt of WD-40 will stop locks from freezing.

If you are concerned that your vehicle isn’t winter ready, M&BM Motors in Essex provides Winter Checks for just £35. Much like an MOT, you will given a set of advisories so if anything needs to be sorted, you’ll have plenty of time before the cold weather sets in.

Simply call M&BM Motors on 01375 379401 to book your Winter Check today.