Drivers unprepared for bad winter weather

By age, it is the youngest motorists who are most likely to be caught out by snowy or icy conditions, the poll of 20,073 AA members revealed.

Overall, 75% of drivers are little or not prepared for inclement winter weather this year, with 80% of women leaving it to chance when venturing out.

Although 50% of 18 to 34-year-olds reckon a bad winter is likely, as many as 88% of them are ill-prepared to deal with it.

This compares with 33% of over-65s who are gearing up for a bad winter by being totally prepared.

Regionally, drivers in north-east England (34%) and Scotland (32%) are most prepared for poor conditions, while only 17% of London motorists are.

When it comes to thinking about getting prepared, women are doing better than men, with 31% saying they are at least thinking about it compared with 15% of men.

AA patrolman of the year Andy Smith said: “Having the right equipment for winter weather in your car can make the difference between being stranded for hours and getting home safely.”

Have you made preparations for your car this winter?