Wintry Weather, Crashes And Car Insurance

As the country experiences the coldest December for decades, we suggest ten ways to avoid making a claim on your car insurance.

According to the Met Office, this has been the coldest December in more than thirty years. Indeed, the average temperature for the first ten days of this month was three degrees below the long-term average of 4.7°C. The last time we had a colder run-up to Xmas was in the icy winter of 1976, so be sure to wrap up warm when out and about!

Obviously, the last thing you need during a worldwide credit crunch is a road-traffic accident which pushes up your premium for car insurance. Alas, low temperatures, combined with shorter daylight hours, make driving at this time of year much trickier. In particular, a sudden temperature drop can lead to `black ice' forming on ungritted roads, which is the cause of many sudden impacts.

As with most things, prevention is better than cure, so it makes sense to prepare for difficult conditions and to drive with extra caution. This is especially the case if you're driving long distances over Christmas. So, here are ten tips on avoiding crashes, crunches and collisions over Yuletide, courtesy of Fool.co.uk and M&S Money, the financial arm of Marks & Spencer:

1. Take your time. If you have a long drive planned over Christmas, then leave plenty of extra time to reach your destination if conditions worsen.

2. Driving more slowly is the best way to tackle poor weather conditions and unexpected hazards. As the old saying goes: more haste, less speed.

3. Whenever possible, avoiding driving in the evening or at night. Instead, make full use of the limited daylight hours on offer at this time of year.

4. Keep your car properly serviced, and ensure that its battery is fully charged.

5. Make sure that the windscreen is completely clear and clean before setting off, because you can't drive safely if you can't see clearly. An old credit or store card makes an excellent frost scraper!

6. Check all four tyres are in good condition, making sure that they are at the correct pressure, that tread depth is good, and there is no obvious damage to tyre surfaces.

7. Make sure that all front and rear lights are clean and working; replace any faulty or blown bulbs.

8. Fully charge your mobile phone before setting off on long-distance trips, and take a car-phone charger with you. In extreme weather, it will be your lifeline to emergency and breakdown services.

9. Keep an emergency kit in your car, including an ice scraper, de-icer, electric torch and batteries, warm blanket and first-aid kit. These could make a cold night in your vehicle a lot less perilous!

10. Have the details of your breakdown cover to hand, including a contact number and your policy information. (You do have breakdown cover, don't you? If not, try AutoAid at only £37 a year.)

Obviously, the best way to keep down your car insurance premium is to avoid making claims in the first place. According to M&S Money, these were the top five reasons for car-insurance claims last December:

1. Drove into third party;

2. Hit in rear while stationary;

3. Hit animal or object;

4. Third party emerged from side road into vehicle; and

5. Third party collided with unattended vehicle.

By taking a few simple steps and planning ahead, you should be safer on the roads until warm weather returns. In the meantime, bon voyage and Merry Christmas!

More: Get quality quotes for car insurance | Keep Insurance Costs Lower For Longer