DEVON and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has released advice for driving in harsh winter weather.

The fire service advise carrying the following equipment in your vehicle:

• Warm clothes and sturdy footwear

• Ice scraper and de-icer

• Blanket, first aid kit and warning triangle

• Jump leads

• Map

• Torch – either wind-up or with spare battery

• Fully charged mobile phone

• Sunglasses

• Snow chains.

Before setting off on your journey, check:

• Anti-freeze levels

• Top up screenwash with a higher concentration to prevent it freezing,

• Tyre pressures and

• Clear lights and windows

• Clear ice off the vehicle before driving, do not drive off until your windows have fully de-misted and all ice is removed.

While driving:

• Drive defensively – anticipate the road ahead through observing near, middle and far distance.

• Keep well within the speed limits; drive to the conditions not the speed limit

• Avoid excessive steering and cornering at speed

• Steer smoothly into bends and corners

• Avoid excessive braking, brake gently and use low gears to engine brake.

• Avoid overtaking gritting vehicles, the driver has limited visibility and the road in front of them will be worse than the road behind them

• Increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front, stopping distances can increase to 10 times that of normal stopping distances

• Use second gear when moving off in snow

• Black ice is more prevalent early morning and late at night when temperatures are at their lowest

• Select the most suitable gear early when driving up hill, avoids changing gear on the hill and losing momentum

• Reduce speed before going downhill, select a low gear and avoid using the brakes.

• Allow an extra 10 minutes to prepare the car before setting off