With a Met Office Yellow Warning of snow and ice being issued, impacting parts of West Midlands, northern England, Northern Ireland and some areas of Scotland during today, tomorrow and Friday, The AA is issuing travel advice for drivers.

For those who still need to make essential trips, roads are likely to be hazardous, so extreme caution is advised.

Chris Wood, AA Patrol of the Year, says: “If you need to travel, reduce your speed to account for the conditions and leave plenty of space behind other vehicles, and try to use main roads where possible as these are more likely to have been gritted. Allow extra time, as it’s likely your journey will take longer than usual, and ensure you have plenty of fuel or electrical charge if driving an electric vehicle (EV).

“Before setting off, check the condition of your tyres (including the spare). It’s important to fully de-ice the car which includes clearing snow from the windows, lights and roof so you can see and be seen. If you own an EV, you can preserve range by defrosting your vehicle while it’s still on charge.

“It’s also worth having winter essentials in the car such as warm, waterproof layers, a shovel, a torch, and a flask of hot drink. Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged and download the AA app and what3words to help us get to you faster if the worst should happen.

“The cold snap is likely to affect vehicle breakdown levels, with faults such as flat batteries and wiper faults.”

Further advice on winter driving is available at https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/seasonal/winter and a winter travel checklist can be found at https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/seasonal/winter-checklist

Live traffic updates are available at https://www.theaa.com/route-planner/traffic-news