Driving in the snow is not something that most of us have much experience at.

Here are a few tips for anyone renting a van in the next few days who may need to drive in the snow:

• Take it easy – steer, accelerate and brake much more gently and slowly than usual
• You may need up to 10 times your normal braking distance to come to a safe halt
• Drive in the lowest gear possible – if you set off in 1st gear, shift up to 2nd as soon as you are moving
• If you start to skid, take your foot off the brake/accelerator and steer gently into the skid – don’t brake or accelerate hard to try and drive out of it
• Make sure you have plenty of fuel, warm clothes and perhaps a drink and sugary snack with you. You may get stuck, break down or have to take a long diversion and the cold is your enemy in these cases.
• Remember that if you break down you should get out of your vehicle to wait for assistance – you will need a warm coat.
• Make sure all of your windows are cleared of condensation, ice and snow before you set off. Allow plenty of time so you won’t feel tempted to try and rush.
• Make sure your windscreen washer bottle if full and has plenty of anti-freeze in it
• The compacted snow in other vehicle’s tyre tracks is more likely to be icy – fresh snow often gives better grip
• Put a shovel in your van if you have one – it will enable you to clear the snow from around your wheels if you get stuck.

Take care out there – most collisions are preventable and are the result of driving errors, even in this bad weather.

For the latest traffic information, visit the Highways Agency Traffic Information website.