Here are a few simple driving tips to ensure you stay safe on the roads this winter, before you even start your journey:

• Only use your car if you absolutely have to.
• Plan your journey. Check the RAC Route Planner or consult an up-to-date roadmap.
• Tell friends or family where you're going, which route you're taking and when you expect to arrive.
• Bring a fully-charged mobile phone with you.
• Bring a key de-icer to unfreeze any frozen locks.
• It's worth keeping the following items in your car, just in case you break down: a torch, a blanket, an ice- scraper, suitable shoes or boots and a de-icer of some sort. A flask of hot drink might also come in handy on longer journeys.