Winter driving conjures up images of pure chaos. Once you have given your car a winter health check up and consulted our guide on driving legally in winter, it’s time to get down to business debunking Winter Car Myths.
It’s against the law to drive in wellies FALSE
The highway code does insist on appropriate footwear when driving, to have full grasp on the controls. There is however no discretion on which footwear is suitable and which is not. Therefore, wellies are good to go, but be aware of your grasp on the pedals.
If you lose control on the ice and crash, your insurers will pay out FALSE
Not necessarily; drivers are ultimately responsible for their actions behind the wheels. Motorists may be accused of having a false claim if they lose control on the ice, even if there is no-one else involved. If there is more than one driver involved, the fault is entirely dependent on the circumstance and nature of the accident.
Leaving the engine running to warm the car invalidates the insurance if the vehicle is stolen TRUE
This is actually true, so be aware as a lot of insurance policies have a ‘keys exclusion’ clause, which states that if your car is stolen while you left it unattended with the engine running, you may not be covered.
Having winter tyres fitted invalidates your insurance TRUE / FALSE
This depends on your insurance provider.
It is illegal to not carry an emergency kit in boot FALSE
It is not written in law to carry an emergency breakdown kit in the winter, but it is an extremely good idea to have one. We also recommend that you include a phone charger in this kit, particularly if you have a USB charging port in your car.
Break ins and car thefts are more common at Christmas FALSE
This is extremely false, if anything the statistics show a drop-in car theft on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Driving with a windscreen that isn’t fully de-iced is illegal TRUE
This is true, so make sure you give yourself 5-10 minutes before your journey time to full de-ice your car and remove any snow from the roof to prevent any accidents or indeed fines.
It is statistically a lot more dangerous to drive in the winter TRUE
This one is sadly true. Adverse weather conditions inevitable take hold of the roads and make accidents and damage all the more likely.
Four-wheel drive cars are invincible in the snow FALSE
Four-wheel drive cars are advantageous when driving in snowy weather. However, protection is not always a guarantee as the drivers’ performance is also central to safety.
Pouring boiling water on your windscreen is the best way to melt the ice quickly FALSE
This is FALSE, as the extreme change in temperature is actually more likely to break or crack your windscreen. Your best bet is simply to use a deicer and a scraper.
Deflating tyres gives better traction in snow FALSE
This one yet again is wrong, if anything it will probably make things worse. Your tyres need to be in tip top condition to best tackle the snow.
Rubbing vinegar on windscreen wipers makes them last longer FALSE
If your windscreen wipers are in poor condition the only solution is to replace them. To receive quotes for local wiper repairs, consult our site, and save the vinegar for your chips!
There is no point washing your car throughout the winter months FALSE
Road salt can be terribly damaging to the body of your car, so if anything, you should increase the number of washes your car gets in the colder months.
So there you have it, most winter car myths aren’t actually true. There are a few truthful ones amongst them worth paying extra attention to in order to avoid damage or even breaking the law!
If your car does require servicing or any repairs, find an affordable quote for local garages near you with Who Can Fix My Car.
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