DRIVERS are being warned to do car checks or tests before winter comes or face fines of up to £10,000.
The government warns on its website that a car can be unsafe even with a valid MOT certificate.
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There are many things drivers need check on their vehicle to ensure it’s road safe, including wipers, lights and tyres.
Certain checks such as those for tyres can also save drivers losing points off their licence.
Retailers such as Halfords provide winter checks on cars to help drivers stay safe and avoid fines.
Some retailers might offer checks for free. Halfords’ winter checks are £15.
With snow and fog forecast by the Met Office and “Arctic conditions” on the way, these checks could also save lives.
Retailers also sell special “winter kits” to help drivers stay safe on the roads in the colder months.
Check your tyre tread
In the winter, roads can be covered with snow, rain or ice.
Having good tread on your tyres means they can grip the road better, which helps with braking and steering.
The legal minimum tread depth for car tyres in the UK is 1.6mm.
If you have a motorcycle, a large vehicle or a passenger-carrying vehicles, your tread needs to be 1mm.
If you are found with illegal tyres, you could receive a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre.
If all your tyres are deemed illegal, that would be a massive fine of £10,000 and 12 penalty points.
Wiper blade fines can be costly
During the winter months, you will end up using your wiper blades more often.
Weather conditions mean that dirt, grit and rain need cleaning off your windscreen regularly.
However, not having up-to-standard wiper blades could cost you £5,000 in fines.
According to Haynes, check your wiper blades by lifting the wiper arm from the glass.
Then clean the edge of the blade using a clean cloth dipped in washer fluid.
You need to check the rubber for damage. If there are any cracks of splits, you need a new blade.
Can you see any windscreen cracks?
Cold weather can put a strain on windscreens.
Not only are adverse weather conditions and grit impacting your screen, but warm heaters can also have an effect.
Both these things can cause chips in a windscreen to crack.
If you have a crack in your windscreen you have to be off the road.
This is because your windscreen provides up to 30% of your car’s structural strength and is critical in supporting airbag deployment, says Autoglass.
Drivers also need to ensure that their windscreen is clean.
If a police officer deems a windscreen to be too dirty, they could give you a £5,000 fine.
Are all your lights working?
Headlights are essential for cars during the winter months.
This is because days become darker and weather conditions worsen.
However, if you are caught by a police officer with only one working headlight, you can be fined £100 on the spot.
If you challenge this in court, it could rise to a £1,000 fine.
Check your lights before you drive anywhere this winter. If you have a defective light, go to a garage or retailer such as Halfords to have another fitted.
Do you have enough engine oil?
Having enough engine oil in your car during winter could stop long-lasting engine damage.
To check your engine oil, open the bonnet and locate the dipstick.
Some modern cars are fitted with electronic oil monitoring systems, say RAC.
Once you’ve located the dipstick, pull it out and wipe it with a cloth or rag.
The dipstick has two markers on it – minimum and maximum oil levels.
Once it’s clean, put it back into its tube all the way in.
Leave it for a minute or so and remove it again.
You ideally want to have the oil level between the minimum and maximum markers on the dipstick.
If it’s below halfway or below the minimum marker, add some oil.
Is your battery flat?
Checking your battery could mean you’re not stranded in the middle of nowhere during a cold winter’s day.
According to Haynes, a health car battery should have no less than 12.6 volts.
If your car has been sitting for a long period of time, you need to check your car battery.
Some other things to take into consideration are noticing whether your lights are dimming or you’re getting electrical issues.
You can check your car battery yourself using a multimeter or you can take it to your local garage or retailers such as Halfords.
Check your brake fluid level
Having a good level of brake fluid in your car is essential during the winter months.
Brake fluid acts as a lubricant for all movable parts associated with the brake and prevents corrosion.
The recommended timeframe for changing your brake fluid is every two years, says Kwik Fit.
Not changing your brake fluid could result in brake failure, which could put your life at risk in any condition.
You can get your brake fluid checked during any car service.
It is not always included so check with your mechanic to make sure it is checked and changed if needed.
Do you know what your coolant level needs to be?
Coolant is vital to keep your car running as it stops ears from overheating.
During winter, you’ll be working your car extra hard – whether it’s having the heater on, wiping your windscreen more or braking more.
It also stops the car from freezing, which can cause engine damage.
You need to check your coolant twice a year – before summer and before winter – to ensure you won’t have any unexpected surprises on your commute.
To check the coolant level, refer to your vehicle handbook for the location of the coolant filler cap.
Make sure the coolant is between the minimum and maximum markers on the side of the tank, says RAC.
If you’re unsure, contact your local garage or Halfords.
Make sure you have enough air in your tyres
As well as tred, air pressure in the tyres can be the difference between a smooth drive or a serious collision.
Tyres are the only part of the car that have contact with the road and so need to be checked frequently.
Your tyre pressure also affects your fuel consumption, how quick you brake and handling corners.
RAC says that correctly inflated tyres can improve mileage per tank by up to 3%.
Each vehicle has different requirements for tyre pressure, you check your owner handbook or car manual.
Air pressure can be added to tyres at most petrol stations.
If your car is found to have tyres with low air pressure, it could be deemed dangerous, resulting in a fine of £2,500.
Where can I get car winter checks?
The majority of garages, car manufacturers and car retailers do winter safety checks for cars.
Kwik Fit offers a free winter safety check – you can book via its website by entering your car registration number and finding your local centre.
You can get a free five point winter car check at Halfords – it includes battery check, headlights and brak lights, wiper blades, windscreen and MOT due date.
If you have a MINI BMW, you can check a full car check for £29.99 at your local dealer.
Things to do before you start driving during winter
Even with these checks, you need to make sure your car is ready before driving our in winter.
According to Which?, make use of any warm-up or remote start features your car has.
“Start the car as soon as possible to allow the engine to warm and produce hot air for the cabin, “ says Which?.
“Ensure the blowers are pointed at the windscreen, rather than at your feet.
“Use a scraper of a plastic edge to remove ice from glass areas,” continues Which?. “Be careful around the edges as you may risk damaging paintwork or seals.”
Other advice includes using de-icer to ensure windows are completely clear before driving.
Peeking through a makeshift “porthole” is dangerous and illegal, costing you up to £5,000.
Don’t forget to check your roof and remove any snow from there, as well as your bonnet or boot or it will blow off.
“This could be dangerous or distracting to other road users, or fall onto your windscreen when you brake and block your view,” advises Which?.
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