Quiz: how much do you know about cold weather driving?

Cold weather driving

The UK’s climate can feel like a moving target sometimes. But one thing is guaranteed: cold weather driving is something we all have to do at some point in the year.

Whether that’s going to work first thing in the morning and scraping the ice off the car or negotiating slippery bends, it can be enough to send a shiver down your spine. And for some of us, winter weather means driving in snow, which throws up a whole new set of challenges.

But although it’s something you probably do regularly with little thought, how much do you actually know about it? Take our cunning quiz to find out.

Results

Well done! You know your stuff

You need to brush up your knowledge

#1. What’s the best way to save your battery when you start your car on a frosty morning?

It’s chilly outside and your cold weather driving knowledge isn’t much hotter! Try again.

#2. If you feel the nose of the car skid wide, you should…

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#3. Turning on air-conditioning will demist windows quickly

It’s chilly outside and your cold weather driving knowledge isn’t much hotter! Try again.

#4. What’s the legal minimum tread depth for tyres?

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#5. In cold weather, main roads are more likely to be…

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#6. What are winter tyres?

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#7. Stopping distances on snow can be 10 times what you’d expect normally

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#8. It’s illegal to drive with snow on the roof of your car

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#9. When roads are wet or slippery what should be the minimum gap to the car in front?

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#10. What happens if you use your windscreen wipers to clear ice?

It’s chilly outside and your cold weather driving knowledge isn’t much hotter! Try again.

#11. When and where is it best to wash a car?

Try again! You don’t want to be cleaning a car in those conditions…

Finish

 

41 comments on “Quiz: how much do you know about cold weather driving?

  1. Alan W Barker 06/03/2018 7:31 PM

    i would disagree with question 6 in my opinion it is the demister that is required to clear the windows, i would of thought putting on the air conditioning could cause more moist air to increase the steaming up of windows

    • Michael Glentworth 09/03/2018 8:18 AM

      Air conditioning removes moisture from the air. That’s why a lot of people who have the AC on a lot get sore throats, a lack of moisture in the air.

    • Stuart 09/03/2018 10:26 AM

      Air conditioning REMOVES moisture from the air therefore air entering your car is dry and absorbs moisture off the windows. Next time your windows steam up in rain switch on your air con, with full fan, they will clear in no time.

    • Tony 12/03/2018 7:24 PM

      Using the A/C means that drier air is coming into the car – it’s filtered and pre-heated so A/C plus demister is quickest. Try it, you’ll be amazed!

    • John Russell 14/03/2018 11:35 AM

      I agree with Alan. Just turning on A/C (if your car has it!) by itself (which was the question) won’t help very much – you need to use maximum airflow directed at the windscreen.

    • Clive 16/03/2018 4:37 PM

      Turning on the sitcom blow’s dry air so clearing the widows inside quick we

    • Alan 16/03/2018 4:42 PM

      I agree, and regarding question 8, I know from experience, that it’s irresponsible to assume that main roads have been gritted.

    • Stuart Fourt 20/03/2018 2:56 PM

      On the contrary, the a/c produces dry air, so it can demist the screen faster than the demister alone.

    • Kymmel 21/03/2018 10:25 AM

      I totally agree with you, they need to clarify the wording in that question as you wouldn’t put the air on on to demist the windscreen

    • Matt 05/11/2018 8:19 PM

      Air conditioned air is dried out very low humidity air which helps soak the dampness very quickly from all windows especially the front when used with the demister. try it out

  2. Gail Wilkins 07/03/2018 7:36 AM

    Glad I did the quiz it makes you think of things a bit more. e.g legal tyre depth.

    • Russell J Clark 08/11/2018 10:15 PM

      I got that wrong too,alt altho 1.6 mm doesn’t seem much,es especially in winter conditions.

  3. Joan Dixon 08/03/2018 1:19 PM

    It would be very helpful if you published the correct results at the end. I never know which answers were wrong

    • Mike Shaw 08/03/2018 2:32 PM

      Hi Joan, if you look at each question, there should be a green line or a red line indicating which are wrong and right with an explanation of why the wrong answers are wrong.

  4. John Bennett 08/03/2018 3:39 PM

    Question 10 says leave a three second gap. In No nine the stopping distance could be ten times longer, so three seconds mean in normal driving 3/10 = 0.3 gap. this is surley wrong therefore No 10 should be twenty seconds even greater than your maximum of 7 seconds. John Bennett. Good quiz makes one think.

  5. jack fraser 11/03/2018 8:53 PM

    Sorry there is a green and red line.

  6. jack fraser 11/03/2018 8:58 PM

    Sorry there is a green and red line.

  7. Gary 12/03/2018 5:47 PM

    Good quiz. I may be wrong but I thought air conditioning REMOVES moisture from the air

    • Andrew 06/11/2018 8:53 PM

      Yes it does

  8. Tony ellison 12/03/2018 6:05 PM

    Tony ellison not bad for a 74 year old man 11 out of 11

  9. Scott 12/03/2018 7:56 PM

    In cold weather main roads are more likely to be impassable?! What a stupid question. We live in the Uk, not Siberia

  10. Lesley 14/03/2018 8:59 AM

    I wash my car when it is raining to save using water to rinse. A pre wash is helpful also !!

  11. Graham Bateman 14/03/2018 7:05 PM

    I would not use air condition to clear screens, the screen would clear quiicker just using the heater and blower air. I further add tyres with spikes can be used in winter/ice driving, although rarely used in the UK. I have driven all types of vehicles from container traffic to being a salesman traveling 50k+ throughout the UK and Europe. It is my vast experience over fifty years that questions my results of 9 out of eleven.

    • Andrew 06/11/2018 8:57 PM

      You are wrong about the air conditioning. I lived in Canada and in winter we put on winter tyres. They look pretty much the same as standard tyres. Its the compounds and treading that are different.

  12. M. Day 14/03/2018 10:01 PM

    Q. 6 is poor. I always use the demist with warm air max speed.
    Also Q 10 in many conditions 3 secs is still too close.

  13. Tom 15/03/2018 11:31 AM

    With reference to question 10, I always recommend a minimum of 4 sec gap in wet weather.

  14. Diane Thompson 15/03/2018 1:35 PM

    10/11 I’m pleased with that – things we drivers should be aware of

  15. Graham Riches 18/03/2018 5:22 PM

    Since when has it been illegal tpo drive with snow on the roof of a car?

    • Don F 22/03/2018 12:43 AM

      It may not be illegal to drive with snow on top of your car. But if it blows off, it can be classed as an insecure load, therefore you could be charged for causing a hazard to other road users. Also when you brake, the snow could slide over your windscreen, obscuring your vision, & possibly an RTC. For which you can be charged with careless or dangerous driving.

  16. mark 19/03/2018 7:22 PM

    what is the legal tire depth

    • Andrew 06/11/2018 8:58 PM

      1.6 mm

  17. Mr Cheese 20/03/2018 9:31 AM

    ‘The Cure’ reference in question10?

  18. Clive Lewis 21/03/2018 3:05 PM

    If you have the wrong answer it would be helpful if the correct answer was shown.

  19. pam swarbrick 21/03/2018 5:26 PM

    Good quiz and enjoyed it .

  20. Kerry Dadson 05/11/2018 10:11 PM

    I agree with Clive Lewis

  21. John Mckerlie 07/11/2018 8:25 AM

    Good quiz extending the stopping distances reducing speed & smother driving can only be a good thing.I on a personal note find that A.C works for me,But that is my preference.

  22. Colin Carnie 07/11/2018 11:33 AM

    Don’t agree with Q 10. Why seconds? Distance is more important. Keep well away from vehicle in front as braking time will be longer in wet/slippery conditions. Also I never use AC to clear windscreen. Heated windscreen and demist blower suffices. You make assumption that everyone drives a car. I drive a Motor Home which is twice the size on the average car.

    • Andrew Tyler 07/11/2018 12:13 PM

      Seconds is a measurement you can use irrespective of the speed. It’s an excellent way to check that you are not too close to the vehicle in front.

  23. Ken 07/11/2018 9:38 PM

    I’m 82 and got 11/11. It won’t make any difference to my insurance though!

  24. Wyn 10/11/2018 9:15 AM

    Wher are the answers, please?

  25. Michael Jones 10/11/2018 9:54 AM

    Really enjoy the quizzes, does help me a lot, and hopefully makes me more aware

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