Bad weather is one of the leading contributing factors in road traffic accidents in the UK. Ice, fog, heavy rain, and high winds each present distinct hazards — and the techniques required to manage them safely are different in each case. This guide covers what you need to know about driving in the most common adverse weather conditions, how to prepare your vehicle before you set off, and when the safest decision is simply not to drive at all.
Ice is the most dangerous road surface a driver can encounter. Stopping distances on ice can be up to ten times longer than on a dry road — a car travelling at 30 mph on ice may need over 100 metres to stop. The key principles are: reduce your speed significantly before you need to brake, use the highest gear possible to reduce wheel spin, brake and accelerate as gently as possible, and steer smoothly without sudden inputs. If you begin to skid, ease off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction you want to go — do not brake sharply. Black ice is particularly dangerous because it is invisible; it forms most readily on bridges, overpasses, and shaded sections of road, and at temperatures just below 0°C. If the road looks wet but your car is not throwing up spray, suspect ice. In snow, clear all windows, the roof, bonnet, and lights before setting off — snow sliding from your roof onto following vehicles is both dangerous and a criminal offence. Carry a shovel, a bag of grit or cat litter, and a tow rope in your boot during winter months.
Fog is responsible for some of the most serious multi-vehicle collisions on UK roads, largely because drivers fail to adjust their speed to their actual visibility. The Highway Code states that you must use headlights when visibility falls below 100 metres — this is approximately the length of a football pitch. Use dipped headlights, not full beam, as full beam reflects off fog and reduces visibility further. Switch on your rear fog light when visibility drops below 100 metres, but remember to turn it off when visibility improves, as it can dazzle following drivers and mask your brake lights. Increase your following distance significantly — if you can only see 20 metres ahead, you should not be travelling at a speed that requires more than 20 metres to stop. Never use another vehicle's tail lights as a guide to your speed; they give a false sense of security and you may be travelling too close to stop in time.
Heavy rain reduces visibility, increases stopping distances, and can cause surface flooding in a matter of minutes. In wet conditions, stopping distances double compared to dry roads — increase your following distance to at least four seconds. Use dipped headlights in heavy rain to make yourself visible to other drivers. Reduce your speed, particularly on motorways and dual carriageways where spray from other vehicles can reduce visibility to near zero. Avoid driving through standing water if you cannot see the bottom — just 30cm of fast-flowing water is enough to move a car. If you must drive through a shallow flood, do so slowly in first gear at a steady pace to avoid stalling. After passing through water, test your brakes gently to dry them out. Check your wiper blades before the wet season — worn blades smear rather than clear and significantly reduce visibility.
Aquaplaning — also called hydroplaning — occurs when a layer of water builds up between your tyres and the road surface faster than the tyre can disperse it, causing the tyre to lose contact with the road entirely. At this point, steering and braking become largely ineffective. Aquaplaning is most likely at speeds above 50 mph in heavy rain, particularly on motorways where water can pool in wheel tracks. The warning signs are a sudden lightness in the steering, a rise in engine note as the driven wheels spin freely, and a feeling that the car is floating. If you aquaplane, ease off the accelerator gently and do not brake or steer sharply — allow the car to slow naturally until the tyres regain contact with the road. The best prevention is maintaining adequate tyre tread depth (the legal minimum is 1.6mm, but performance degrades significantly below 3mm) and reducing speed in heavy rain.
High winds present particular risks on exposed roads such as motorways, bridges, viaducts, and open country roads. The most dangerous moment is often when emerging from a sheltered section — such as passing a large lorry or exiting a cutting — into a sudden crosswind. High-sided vehicles, motorcycles, and cars towing caravans or trailers are most vulnerable. Reduce your speed in high winds and maintain a firm, two-handed grip on the steering wheel. Increase your lateral distance from high-sided vehicles, cyclists, and motorcyclists, as they can be blown into your path without warning. If you are towing, be especially cautious — a caravan that begins to snake in crosswinds can be extremely difficult to recover. If winds are forecast above 60 mph, consider whether your journey is necessary.
The best time to prepare for bad weather is before it arrives. Check your tyre tread depth and pressure — under-inflated tyres increase aquaplaning risk and reduce grip on wet or icy roads. Ensure your windscreen washer reservoir is topped up with a winter-grade fluid that will not freeze in the jets. Check that all lights are working, including fog lights. Keep your fuel tank at least half full in winter — fuel consumption increases in cold weather and you may face unexpected delays. Carry an emergency kit in your boot: a high-visibility vest, a torch, a first aid kit, a phone charger, a warm blanket, and some food and water for long journeys. If your battery is more than three years old, have it tested before winter — cold weather significantly reduces battery capacity and is the most common cause of winter breakdowns.
There are conditions in which the safest decision is to stop driving altogether. If visibility drops to the point where you cannot see more than a few car lengths ahead, pull over in a safe location — a service station, a car park, or a lay-by — and wait for conditions to improve. If you encounter flooding that you cannot safely assess, do not attempt to drive through it. If your vehicle begins to behave unpredictably on ice and you cannot maintain control at low speed, find a safe place to stop. If you are involved in a skid or minor collision in adverse weather, pull over as soon as it is safe to do so. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway in bad weather unless your vehicle has broken down — the hard shoulder is not a safe place to wait out a storm.
If your vehicle breaks down in adverse weather conditions, the risks are significantly higher than in normal conditions. On an icy road, other vehicles may struggle to stop. In fog, you may be invisible to approaching traffic. In heavy rain, you may be at risk of flooding. If you break down in bad weather, switch on your hazard lights immediately, get yourself and your passengers away from the vehicle and off the carriageway, and call for assistance as quickly as possible. Black Eagle Recovery provides 24/7 roadside assistance and vehicle recovery across London and the South East, in all weather conditions. Our operators are experienced in adverse weather recoveries and will reach you as quickly as road conditions allow. Call 0330 520 1620 — we are available around the clock, every day of the year.
Broken down in bad weather? Black Eagle Recovery provides 24/7 roadside assistance and vehicle recovery across London and the South East, in all conditions. Call 0330 520 1620 — we'll reach you as quickly as possible.
Call 0330 520 1620Leave your details and we'll call you back.
Breaking down is stressful, but knowing exactly what to do can keep you safe and get you back on the road faster. Here is a clear, step-by-step guide covering motorway, A-road and urban breakdowns.
A motorway breakdown is one of the most dangerous situations a driver can face. This guide explains exactly what to do — and what not to do — if you break down on a UK motorway or smart motorway.
A long journey exposes weaknesses that short urban trips never reveal. This complete pre-departure checklist covers tyres, fluid levels, lights, brakes, fuel planning, what to pack in your boot, how to plan for fatigue, and what to do if you break down en route.
Black Eagle Assistant
24/7 · Instant answers
AI assistant · For emergencies call 0330 520 1620