With half a million cars predicted to break down in December, experts give essential tips to help avoid a winter motoring disaster

VISIBILITY 

Clean your windscreen and windows: The low winter sun can often be a real driving hazard – especially when combined with heavy rain on the roads. Regularly cleaning your windscreen and windows, inside and out, can help with visibility. Only use a cleaner intended for car glass. In the morning, you can use warm (not boiling) water for defrosting windows, but watch where it runs – it could form an ice slick when it freezes. An ice-scraper is an in-the-boot must-have at this time of year. (Haynes)

Importance of good quality screenwash: Make sure you have enough screenwash and that the concentration is suitable for cold conditions. Not all screenwash is the same so look for the temperature it protects down to. You should be looking for protection down to down to -10 degrees and if you live in areas subject to the greatest extremes of weather, down to -20 degrees. If you don't use a good quality screenwash there is a danger your washer pump could freeze which might lead to the fuse blowing and your wipers not working because they are often on the same fuse. (RAC) 

Clean wiper blades: Clean the wiping edges of wiper blades with a tissue dipped in neat screen wash additive. This will help stop smearing and prolong their life. Easy to replace if needed, check the condition of your wiper blades and stop them freezing to the screen by propping them up on slices cut from a cork when you park for the night. (Haynes)  

UNDER THE BONNET

Take good care of your battery: Ensure the battery terminals are tight and not corroded. You may get a free battery and charging system at a car accessory shop or fast-fit specialist. Don't wait for your battery to fail – replace it in good time. And make things easier for the battery by not switching on headlights, heater blower or heated rear window until the engine is running. Similarly, switch off lights etc before stopping the engine. Switch off the heated rear window as soon as the screen is clear.(Haynes) 

If the car stands idle most of the weekend a regular overnight trickle charge is a good idea to give the battery a chance to revive. And if your car is struggling to start, use the ignition in short five-second bursts, leaving thirty seconds between attempts to allow the battery to recover. (AA)

Keep an eye on coolant: Ensure that coolant is between the minimum and maximum markers. It is also important that there is sufficient anti-freeze in the coolant. If you're uncertain, have a look at your car handbook or get a local garage to check the strength. Anti-freeze is cheap but damage from a frozen engine can be very expensive to put right. (RAC) 

TYRES

Make sure your rubber is up to the job: The AA recommends at least 3mm of tread for winter motoring, and certainly no less than 2mm. Don't reduce tyre pressures to get more grip – it doesn't work, and reduces stability. It's rare to need snow chains, unless you live in an isolated area, but winter tyres or all-season tyres are now becoming more commonplace – these have a higher silica content in the tread which prevents it hardening at lower temperatures, and therefore gives better grip in cold, wet conditions. They perform best when temperatures down below seven degrees. (AA).

OTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM HAYNES

Fuel: Winter grade diesel can cope with temperatures down to -15°C. If lower temperatures are expected (which isn't likely this year), use an anti-waxing additive in the fuel tank (or stay at home).

Parking up: When parking overnight in freezing conditions, leave your car in gear with the handbrake off if it is safe to do so. This will prevent the handbrake freezing in the 'on' position.

Iced-up door lock: There's no point leaving lock de-icer in the car if you can't actually access it. Frozen door locks can sometimes be freed by blowing into them – but be careful not to get your lips stuck to the car.

Carry a manual: Of course, Haynes will suggest you should have a manual for your car, but it will give specific maintenance advice on your car Haynes manuals are also available to download from the website. Drivers can access all the content from the printed manuals with the additional benefits of a glossary of terms, searchable menus and quick links.

Maintaining your air con for when you need it: Air conditioning systems tend to pack up in spring because they've not been used during the winter. So switch it on for 10 minutes or so once a month to stop the seals drying out. And use it to demist the windscreen even if you don't need the cooling effect.

ADDITIONAL CHECKLIST FROM SAINSBURY'S CAR INSURANCE

Before you set off

• Before you set off, check the weather forecast and traffic updates and if possible, delay travelling if either of these is adverse.
• Defrost and warm up the car before your journey but never leave the vehicle unattended when the keys are in the ignition.
• Check your insurance and breakdown cover are up-to-date and keep a note of these phone numbers in the car. 
• Carry basic winter essentials with you on every journey. These include a warm coat or blanket, a shovel in the boot, a torch, de-icer, road salt or cat litter (which works just as well) a bottle of water and some snacks. Also consider spare fuses, bulbs and jump leads.
• Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged at the start of your journey – or take a mobile phone charger which plugs in to a lighter socket.

Whilst driving

• Leave more time for all manoeuvres - accelerate and decelerate slowly and leave plenty of distance for braking and turning. 
• Dropping gears instead of braking can help prevent skidding.
• In icy conditions, avoid stopping when going uphill and use a lower gear when going downhill.
• If you get stuck in ice or snow, make sure your handbrake is on and clear the area around the wheels; then apply grit or salt around the slipping wheel. 
• Use low revs to gently move away. Setting off in second gear can provide more traction.