After seeing yet another few days of snow chaos and confusion in the UK I thought it might be useful to give some top tips for driving in the snow! 

I'm not quite sure why the snow has caused such massive problems in the UK the last few years, I remember there being plenty of snow during my child hood winters and our school was always open and my parents always got to work. Even as an adult with a fairly long drive to work the snow I don't remember seeing such hype from the 
media about the UK coming to a standstill. 

Having lived in Norway for 5 years I have seen a pretty large amount of snow over the last few years and temperatures down to minus 29. Yet our cars have always been running, our children have always got to nursery and we have always got to work.

So here are my top driving tips for surviving the snow!

1. Tyres: The super slick summer tyres a lot of cars have on in the UK are really are not made for snow or icy conditions. In Norway (and many other countries) it is a legal requirement to change over to winter tyres from October to April. These do not have to be studded tyres, and in fact most people in Norway don't use studded tyres unless they live in rural areas or need to be able to drive to their cabins in the mountains. Winter tyres are made with a rubber compound that is specially formulated for superior performance in wintry conditions. You may think that because it hardly ever snows in the UK, winter tyres are a waste of time. However winter tyres aren't just for snow, they can be used on slush, ice, frost and are even better on wet roads. In fact any time the temperature dips below +7deg the consensus is that you’re better off on winter tyres. Take a look here for a review of winter tyres and here for more general information. So next time you are buying tyres for your car perhaps have a think about whether winter tyres would be a good idea for you!

2. Visibility: It sounds really obvious but you would be amazed at the number of people who set off in their cars with snow covered windows or a pile of snow on top of their cars. Take the extra time to clear your car of snow before you set off on your journey, far better to be 5 minutes late then not arrive at all.

3. Frozen Locks: Use a cigarette lighter to warm a key for a frozen lock. Don't breathe on the lock, as the moisture will condense and freeze. 

4. Be Prepared: Make sure your mobile phone has a fully charged battery in case you do get stuck somewhere and have to call for help. A torch, tow rope, blanket, snow shovel and warning triangle are all useful things to have in your car during the winter months.

5. How to cope if your car skids:  If your vehicle skids, depress the clutch and turn the steering wheel into the direction of the skid. When the vehicle straightens steer along the road. Don't brake - it will just lock up your wheels and you'll skid further. 

6. Use a high gear:  If you are trying to set off on a snowy patch use 2nd gear and ease the clutch up gently to avoid wheel spin. If your tyres can't grip then using 1st gear and accelerating hard isn't going to fix that.

7. Plan your route: Even if it is a trip you make all the time make sure you think a little more about which way to go in snowy and icy conditions. Which roads are the most likely to be difficult and which are likely to have been gritted. 

8. Take it steady!: Poor road conditions mean you need to reduce your speed, your braking distance will be increased massively in slippery conditions. Leave yourself plenty of time to get to where you are going or just accept you are going to be a little late. 

9. Be aware of others: Have you ever noticed that when the bad weather hits all the crazy drivers appear on the roads?! Keep your distance from others and be aware of other vehicles on the road. HGVs in particular may not see you on motorways in bad conditions.

10. Work from home: If you plan ahead during winter months and talk to your manager you may be able to arrange a contingency plan for days that the roads really aren't safe to drive on. Working from home can be a good option where possible in extremely snowy conditions.