As of December 1, the winter will begin here in the UK and that means that we rely a lot more on our vehicles to get around.

The roads begin to become more hazardous with ice, sleet, snow, rain and even more wildlife with the rutting season. Not only do you have to concentrate even more to avoid any accidents, but your car needs to be in tip-top shape in order for it to work properly.

What’s more, being prepared and packing a certain array of equipment in your car, may save you from coming into any trouble. We’ve compiled a list of things you need to take note of when driving your car this winter.

Ice scraper

One of the simplest ways to help ease the strain of owning a car in the winter is to buy an ice scraper. It’s compact, handy, and does a great job of removing ice from those frozen windscreens in the morning.

The best way is to keep it in your car all the time as they can be easily lost. Furthermore, some car makers such as Skoda actually have them built into the fuel filler flaps.

De-icer

Just like an ice scraper, de-icer also is a quick and efficient way of removing that stubborn frost from your windscreen first thing in the morning.

Whereas an ice scraper is made of plastic and takes a few minutes to remove the frost, a de-icer is a liquid that is designed to burn through the frost and prevent it from icing up again as it uses the chemical ethylene glycol. The reason behind this is that water has a freezing temperature of zero degrees – de-icer can remove ice from as low as -12 degrees making it a lot easier to clear.

Winter tyres

Having decent rubber on your car at all times will always reassure you of staying safe on the roads. But, winter tyres can be even safer still as they come with a lot thicker and deeper tread patterns and are ideal for cars that come with all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive.

They may not be the cheapest way to stay safe, but when the roads are icy, or there is snow about, having great levels of grip and making sure your family is secure will make these a great investment.

Phone chargers

Always carry phone chargers in your car as this is another important safety tip. If you ever have the misfortune of breaking down or if you’re involved in an accident, having your phone charged up allows you to ring for help or a breakdown recovery service.

Without a fully charged phone, you could be at risk of getting stuck with no help to hand or if you have an accident and there are no witnesses, you could become trapped and others won’t be aware of the danger you could be in.

Check fluid levels on your vehicle

All internal-combustion-engined vehicles need to be serviced and looked after on a regular basis. Before driving your car this winter, check that all the fluids are topped up. Look at the engine oil, screenwash, brake fluid and coolant, as all these vital liquids help keep your car running smoothly.

Some helpful advice would be to have your car fully serviced by either a reputable garage or if you’re mechanically minded – do it yourself. It gives you the reassurance and peace of mind that your car has fresh engine fluids to help prolong the life of the vehicle and make it less of a hazard to other road users.

Take a hat and scarf

Even simple things like keeping a hat and scarf in your car can all benefit from you driving safely this winter. By wrapping up, it will keep you warmer and allow you to concentrate more. If you’re too cold, it can affect your concentration levels – leading to higher risks of accidents.

When it’s cooler your car takes a little while longer to warm up, so having some extra insulation can help to take the edge off while it comes up to temperature. A hat and a scarf can be a cheap and effective way of keeping warm quickly on the roads this winter.