Driving in Snow and Ice: Safety Guide for New Drivers

Should You Drive at All?

Genuinely — the first question to ask in severe snow is whether the journey is necessary. New drivers should be particularly cautious. If a journey can be postponed until conditions improve, that's often the safest choice.

Stopping Distances in Snow and Ice

On dry roads at 30 mph, stopping distance is approximately 23 metres. On packed snow or ice, this can increase to 10 times longer — over 200 metres. At 70 mph on ice, you may need nearly a kilometre to stop safely. These are physics, not estimates.

Before You Drive

• Clear all snow from the roof, bonnet, windows, lights, and number plates (a fine applies if snow from your car hits another vehicle)
• Check your mirrors are clear and de-iced
• Ensure all lights are working and visible
• Let the engine warm up for a few minutes before driving
• Check your tyres — snow dramatically reduces grip on worn tyres

Driving Technique in Snow

• Move off in second gear (manual cars) — reduces wheel spin
• Accelerate, steer, and brake gently — all inputs should be smooth and gradual
• Keep 10x the normal following distance
• Use engine braking — change down gears rather than braking hard
• Avoid steep hills if possible — losing grip on a hill is genuinely dangerous

If You Start to Skid

Steering/front-wheel skid: Ease off the accelerator and steer into the skid gently — don't brake sharply.

Rear-wheel skid: Steer into the skid (if the back is going left, steer left). Release the accelerator and avoid the brake.

Winter Tyres and Snow Chains

Winter tyres (marked with a snowflake symbol) are designed for temperatures below 7°C and offer dramatically better grip than summer or all-season tyres in cold, wet, or icy conditions. They're not mandatory in the UK but are very much worth considering for regular drivers in affected areas. Snow chains require specific road conditions and advance practice to fit — they're rarely needed in most of England but useful in highland Scotland.

Can Tests Be Cancelled for Snow?

Yes — the DVSA will cancel tests if conditions make testing unsafe. You'll be notified and can rebook with no loss of your permitted changes. If conditions deteriorate on the morning of your test, call your test centre to confirm before travelling.