A BURY-based Volvo retailer has offered some top tips to drivers on staying safe on the roads this winter.

Hatfields, located on Manchester Road, has created a handy, easy-to-follow guide to help protect drivers and their cars as the cold weather sets in.

The retailer has outlined five things that drivers can follow:

1. Car Diagnosis

Hatfields says that simple checks should be done on a car during winter months. They say that it is important to have plenty of fuel, topped up car oil and coolant and fully-working electrics. For Volvo drivers in Bury (except the V40 model), the Volvo On Call app can carry out these checks for you.

2. Driving carefully

It is essential tyres are correctly inflated and in good condition. The minimum level of tread required is 1.6mm but during winter this should generally be 3mm when driving on slippery surfaces. To test a tyre’s tread, a driver can use a twenty pence piece. When putting the 20p into a tyre groove, the rim of the coin should sit in the tyre so it’s no longer visible. If it is, you should buy new tyres.

3. Icy windscreens

To prevent ice appearing on your windscreen overnight, simply rub a raw onion over it the evening before. This should mean that you should be able to get going in the morning without the pain of scraping.

4. Essential preparation

During the cold months, be sure to keep an emergency kit in your car. This should be warm clothes, water, snacks, a torch, a shovel, a warning triangle, a first-aid kit and a fully charged mobile phone. These could turn out to be life-saving should your car break down.

5. Professional checks

Ensure your car is thoroughly checked and prepared for the winter season by a trained professional. These inspections can be done for a small fee at a variety of places. Hatfields offers a comprehensive check for £25.

For further advice on driving on cold and icy roads, the RAC offers extensive guides and articles on their website: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/winter-driving/