A Touch Of Frost Could Cost You Thousands

Make sure you and your car are prepared for an icy winter.

After the last two damp and mild years, I had pretty much discounted the British winter as a force to be reckoned with.

So when the tabloids started screaming that Arctic weather was heading our way at the end of October, I took no notice. The more benign our winters become, the more the media hypes up the slightest threat of snow or ice.

But I was wrong. Next day saw blizzards in Stevenage, icy conditions in East Anglia, and the first October snow in London since 1934. There was even a dusting of snow in my Suffolk back garden, and my car windscreen was iced up. I had to scrape it clean with a plastic plate.

The Met Office still claims this will be a mild winter, but wise motorists should be gearing themselves up for further wintry outbreaks and icy road conditions.

The road accident rate climbs notably in the winter, with January one of the most dangerous months, and February not far behind. Darker nights also contribute to the added danger.

A touch of frosting

Frosty mornings also bring out the thieves. "Frosting" sounds like the type of thing Stan Collymore might do in a public car park, but in fact is a tried and trusted way of stealing cars.

Opportunistic thieves roam the streets looking for vehicles left unattended while the driver warms up the engine and nips back inside to get ready, leaving the keys in the ignition.

Sainsbury's Bank estimates that around 66,000 unsuspecting motorists fall foul of frosting every year, while AA Insurance says the October cold snap created a fresh set of victims.

And there's bad news for any motorist whose car does get frosted: you won't get a penny from your insurer. Leaving keys in an unattended vehicle is specifically excluded from car insurance policies, because you have failed in your duty of care to your vehicle.

So you've lost your car, its entire value and your faith in human nature, because of a tiny slip-up.

Frosting is so prevalent because modern cars are almost impossible to steal without the keys, says Simon Douglas, director at AA Insurance. "Organised criminals cruise suburbs looking for the tell-tale plume of steam rising from the exhaust and if the car is unattended, it only takes a few seconds for it to vanish."

So if your car does need defrosting, stay close or it could melt away altogether.

Screen saver

You should still thoroughly de-ice your windows before setting off. If you have an accident while peering through a frozen windscreen you will get a cold reception from your insurer, because you have failed in your duty to drive with all-round visibility (it will still pay a third-party claim, say, to an injured pedestrian).

Tipping the contents of your kettle over the windscreen will clear it in seconds, but the sudden temperature change could crack the glass. Most insurers will probably pay for a cracked windscreen - although they might charge an excess of around £50. It may be worth investing a few pounds in an ice scraper.

Gritty urban drama

As you would expect, if you skid and crash on icy roads your insurer will pay out under the accidental damage clause of your policy. It should also pay if your motor is damaged by a passing gritter, but this may put a dent in your no-claims discount, because insurers can't recover the cost from the gritting company.

Breakdown assistance is essential at this time of year, and your policy should give you exactly the same cover whatever the weather - unless severe wintry conditions prevent them from getting to your car.

It's worth keeping your car in tip-top condition. Get it serviced, monitor your oil, water and brake fluid levels, and check the antifreeze in the radiator is at the optimum 50/50 mix.

Slip sliding away

Many younger drivers will have had little experience of driving in icy conditions. I once lost control of the car on black ice in Norway, and it was terrifying. Experts say if you feel your vehicle sliding, you shouldn't break, but should turn gently into the skid and let the car come slowly to a halt. Exactly like I didn't.

It's worth keeping a torch, blanket, bottle of water and a few chocolate bars in the car in case you get stranded. And make sure your mobile is fully charged.

In 2003, motorists were stranded on the M11 in Essex and Cambridgeshire for up to 20 hours, as snow forced it to a standstill. OK, that won't happen often, but you should be prepared, just in case.

A touch of frost or a patch of ice could prove costly this winter, but if you're careful your insurer should foot the bill rather than you.

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