Eleven tips on what to have in your car in case you get stuck in freezing weather as Met Office issues ice warning

DRIVERS should be on high alert after the Met Office issued a travel warning for snow and ice over the Great Britain.

Freezing temperatures will hit the nation with growing fears of more traffic accidents.

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Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice in Scotland have been issued by the Met Office and parts of northern and western England.

And the weather service warns that there could be significant disruptions to travel by road and rail as a result.

Here are eleven top items RAC experts say you should have in your car in case you get stuck in freezing weather.

Ice scraper and de-icer

The Met Office emphasizes that an ice scraper and de-icer are essential items but are still winter must-haves.

Don’t forget that it is a legal requirement to clear your front and rear windows of snow and ice before driving.

Mobile phone charger in the car

Drivers should have a cell phone charger in their car to charge their battery while driving.

If you have an accident on the highway, you need to find the nearest emergency number.

On quieter roads, however, you may have to walk to the nearest house or hold on and wait for a passing motorist to stop and help.

Warm clothes and blankets

The RAC advises drivers to wrap up warm in case of a breakdown.

A large coat, gloves, a spare sweater, hat, and gloves should do the job

Torch and Atlas

A phone light isn’t really going to give you any visibility if you’re stuck at the side of a country road in the winter.

A large flashlight with spare batteries or a wind-up flashlight that does not require battery power is essential for your vehicle.

In the event of detours or strays, it is worth having a paper road atlas with you.

high visibility clothing

Speaking of clothing: If you have to park the vehicle after dark, it is important that you can be seen by other drivers.

jumper cables

Dead or dead batteries can happen to any engine, but in cold weather, such problems are much more likely to occur.

In frost you should always have a set of jumper cables or jumper cables to hand.

Fuel can empty

You could find yourself without fuel after using more than planned in freezing weather.

If you run out of fuel, it is important to have an empty fuel container available.

to eat and drink

If you are traveling in icy conditions, you should take some food and drink with you.

Bottled hot drinks are also a good idea at this time of year.

shovel

Unless the weather is very snowy, you usually shouldn’t find deep snow on treated roads.

However, if you’re driving on minor roads or there’s a snowstorm or blizzard, you might be caught off guard and a shovel could prove invaluable.

sunglasses

While this might seem more like part of a summer tool kit, the winter sun can seriously affect your vision while driving.

It can create a glare that makes it difficult to see the road.

warning triangles

Freezing weather can lead to accidents and a warning triangle is used to warn other motorists of a breakdown.

Ideally you need two – one in front of the car and the second in the back.

You will be surprised how far away they should be placed – the signs should be at least 45 meters from the vehicle.