The clocks have gone back an hour and the evenings are getting darker. With many drivers facing a dark commute to work, pedestrians and cyclists more difficult to see, and the potential for heavy rain, snow and black ice, the winter months can be dangerous for motorists.

However, there are plenty of things you can do to improve your safety during winter. RAC patrol Crackers Patel shares some tips:

• Before heading out, check that your lights and brakes are in good working order.
• Clean your lights - a quick wipe over will enable you to see, and be seen, more easily.
• Don’t forget to switch your lights off when you park your car. The RAC anticipates a 15% increase in flat battery call outs over the winter due to people leaving their lights on when their car is stationary.
• Clean the inside and outside of your windscreen - a smeared windscreen can cause glare when driving at night or when the sun is low in the sky.
• Check your wiper blades are working and keep them topped up with proper screen wash - washing up liquid can damage your car’s paintwork.
• Autumn leaves and weather can make the roads slippery so check your tyres. Make sure they are at the correct pressure, that the rubber is in good order and that the treads meet minimum requirements – 1.6mm for cars, vans and light trailers and 3mm when it’s wet.
• If you feel tired, pull over and rest for half an hour.

The RAC offers car breakdown cover from £28, including up to 34.5% online discount. Patrols aim to be at the scene of the breakdown within 40 minutes of receiving a call.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 3:43 pm and is filed under Car Insurance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.