Ice, fog, rain, slippery roads: How to drive safely in winter

As temperatures drop and winter sets in, driving can become even riskier, with a whole set of season-specific hazards to watch out for.

Yesterday morning, South Island police urged motorists to take care when driving on icy roads after a series of crashes.

Foggy, rainy, slippery, and icy roads will become more regular over the next few months, meaning many will have to adapt their regular driving habits. It's also important to keep on top of maintenance during the chilly season.

Here are some tips to help keep your vehicle and driving safer this winter.

In some of the coldest parts of the country, icy roads are likely – making for treacherous driving conditions.

A lot of tyre grip is lost when driving on ice, meaning braking and stopping distances can be much longer.

The first thing to consider, according to the Automobile Association (AA), is whether you need to drive at all. If you do, it's important to plan your route, check the conditions, and inform family and friends in case of an emergency.

If it looks like it's going to snow, it's worth packing a set of snow socks or chains.

The type of car you drive is also important. AA motoring advisor Ryan Bos said that if you don't have a four-wheel drive or off-road type car, you shouldn't be driving on ice or snow.

There's also a chance you could get stuck, so AA recommended packing a mobile phone (with a charger cable), a bottle of water, warm clothes, snacks, and a blanket.

When actually driving, anticipation and smoothness were "key".

"Look well ahead for potential hazards, changes in road surface appearance and behaviour of other vehicles – react early and keep to a lower speed," AA said.

"Accelerate, brake, steer and change gear as smoothly as possible to reduce the risk of a skid."

When setting off up hills, try to use a higher gear to retain traction, then drop back down once you're at a safe speed and can maintain control. In automatics, use the L, 1 or 2 position for more effective engine-assisted braking downhill.

AA said that when driving on ice, you should always leave a gap of up to 10 times the recommended distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.

To avoid getting into trouble on black ice, which is a thin layer of ice on the road that appears the same colour as the tarmac.

Bos said black ice was "one of the biggest hidden dangers on our roads". He said you should drive cautiously on shaded stretches of road such as bridges, flyovers and tunnels.

"Making sure that you're driving safely to the speed limit, you're not following too closely to the car in front of you. That will help you navigate those situations safely when you do encounter them."

If you find yourself skidding on icy roads, keep moving, look in the direction you want to go and take your foot off the accelerator. Avoid slamming on the brakes: "Although this might be a natural response, it will only upset the vehicle balance and make it harder to regain control," AA said.

You can also use gears to slow down if necessary. Sudden movements should also be avoided.

When driving in fog, visibility is most important. The New Zealand Transport Agency's (NZTA) official advice is to keep all windows and mirrors clean. If they fog up, turn on the demister or open a window.

It's important to be considerate of other drivers, whose safety is also at risk in fog.

If your headlights are on full beam in fog, the light will reflect back onto you, so dip them to improve visibility.

You shouldn't just use your park lights either, as they do little to improve vision and are hard for oncoming drivers to see.

Fog lamps, which have a low beam of white or yellow light, can also be used. This does come with a warning, however, as using fog lamps in clear weather or at night is illegal and can result in an infringement fee of $150 or a maximum penalty of $1000.

When driving in the rain, the Government's Drive website recommends driving more slowly than usual and maintaining a following distance of four seconds from the car in front of you.

Look 12 seconds ahead for any big puddles.

"If you’re going too fast when you hit a big puddle, your car can lose its grip on the road."

Bos told 1News that if driving became overwhelming, it was a good idea to limit distractions – such as the radio or chatty passengers.

"Turn the music down a little bit, you know, still have it on in the background, but a lot of radio can sometimes put you on edge.

"And just letting people know that you're driving and you're in control of a car and maybe pause the conversation if you're driving through a particularly rough bit of road or if there's lots of traffic".

If there were other motorists not driving in the conditions and causing you concern, Bos said to simply "pull over".

"Don't be on the same road as them. Pull over, have a break, wait five or 10 minutes and then head off again."

If a car is driving very dangerously, it's best to call the police.

It's also a good idea to ensure your car is in good nick for the winter months by taking several steps.

AA recommends using winter as a good time to get your car serviced and to check that all of the lights are working.

Your car battery is likely working extra hard to power all the electronics, so it may be time to get a new one.

If your battery is about to die and you're struggling to start the car in the morning, switch on each piece of electronics one by one after you get the engine running.

It's also a good idea to check your tyres and make sure each has equal pressure and good tread.

If you haven't driven in a while, take your car out for a test run the night before to make sure everything is working.

If you have an icy windscreen in the morning, pour cold water over it, or let the engine run while blasting the heater inside. A plastic scraper or debit card can also be helpful. Never use boiling water as it can crack the windscreen.