Staying safe on the roads this winter

It's cold and miserable and grey outside. Yuk.

Hopefully we won't get anymore snow now until next winter, although there’s always a possibility. But we'll definitely be getting lots of wind, lots of rain and lots of cold morning frosts before spring finally decides to poke its head around the corner.

Winter is the time of year when there are more car crashes on Britain's roads than at any other time. Snow, ice, fallen trees and gusty winds all combine to cause numerous accidents and all too many fatalities.

So girls, to keep yourself safe on the roads and to ensure that your cheap premium for women's car insurance stays at a low price, there are a few tips you can follow and several precautions that you can take.

Firstly, you've got to ask yourself, "Do I really need to go out in the car?" Half of the trips that we make aren't strictly necessary and could probably wait until tomorrow. If you really have got to go out, however, and it's icy or snowy, then prepare for the worst. Take a mobile phone and keep some warm clothing in the boot, along with a torch, a spade and some food. It sounds a bit OTT but you never know when you might get stranded. Just think of those thousands of poor people who got stuck on the M1 for a whole day a few years ago.

Now you've packed your car with all the provisions that might just come in handy, drive according to the conditions when you're on the road. Although to a certain extent it does come with experience, driving in snow and ice can be particularly tricky. Keep your distance from the vehicle ahead as braking distances can be up to ten times more on bad roads, and make sure your speed is kept at a minimum.

Advanced driving courses such as PassPlus can be a real help in learning how to drive in treacherous conditions, and they'll also make your women’s car insurance premium even cheaper. Well worth investing in.

Windy weather can be a nightmare to drive in and falling trees and branches can be particularly hazardous. One of the biggest dangers is high-sided vehicles, which have a tendency to topple over, and overtaking them can be a risky business because of the gusts of wind that will hit you as you pass. Be careful.

Fog is especially nasty to drive in and one of the biggest killers on Britain's roads. The complete lack of visibility can make any trip hazardous and so you should drive slowly and carefully. Put your fog lights on but remember to turn them off when the fog's gone, leave plenty of space between yourself and the car in front, and because distance is hard to judge, slow down using your brakes so that cars behind know that you're slowing down.

It's a sad fact that many women get attacked during the winter months when they've broken down. Don't let this happen to you and ensure your doors are locked if something goes wrong with your car. Use your mobile phone to call for help and be wary of men that stop to offer assistance. It might seem rude, but it really is better to be safe than sorry. Joining a rescue service such as the AA or RAC is a good bet, and then don't open the door to anyone who can't prove that he's an official mechanic.

The best piece of advice for driving in nasty weather is simply to be careful. Be aware of the conditions around you and of other road users who might not know what they're doing. Accidents happen to us all, however carefully you might drive, so ensure that you've got adequate motor insurance to cover you if the worst does happen.

As a lady, you've got an advantage over the men in as much as you're entitled to get a cheap deal on women's car insurance from a specialist insurance firm. Use that advantage and get a cheap car insurance deal to protect you not only during the winter, but all year around.

*A replacement car can normally be arranged under one of the following conditions: (1) Comprehensive policyholders – a replacement car may be available under the terms of your insurance policy. Please check your policy details for more information. (2) Non fault accident – where we have the name, car registration number and insurance details of the person who caused the accident, we can supply a replacement car. This is done on a credit hire basis which means the costs for this service will be passed onto the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. We may not be able to arrange a replacement car where we are unable to get an admission of liability from their insurance company, or where the driver is untraceable or uninsured. (3) Repair garage – if your car is booked in for repairs following an accident, the repair garage may be able to provide a replacement car (subject to availability).

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