Three Tips for Avoiding Accidents on Scotland's Roads this Winter

Storm season is well and truly here. We've already had a handful of weather warnings across Scotland, and there are plenty more to come before spring. The official advice during a weather warning is always the same: stay home if you can. But that's not always realistic. You still need to get to work, pick up the kids, or keep an appointment you've been waiting weeks for.

Here's the reality. Around 22% of car accidents in Scotland happen in poor weather conditions. Rain, ice, fog, high winds. If you do have to drive, a few simple precautions can make a real difference.

Glasgow gets rain on roughly 167 days of the year. That's almost every other day. Heavy rainfall creates standing water on roads, and standing water means one thing: hydroplaning. That's when your tyres lose contact with the road surface and you're essentially gliding on a thin layer of water. It can happen at surprisingly low speeds if the water is deep enough.

The simplest thing you can do is slow down. Keep your speed well below the limit when it's wet. And if you do feel the car start to hydroplane, don't slam the brakes. That will make things worse. If you're in a front-wheel drive car, gently accelerate and steer toward a safe space. It feels counterintuitive, but it helps your front tyres regain grip.

This one sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people forget. When visibility drops, whether it's heavy rain, fog, or just the early darkness of a Scottish winter afternoon, switch your dipped headlights on. Not your full beams. Dipped lights.

It's not just about you being able to see the road. It's about other drivers being able to see you. A dark-coloured car on a grey road in the rain is practically invisible without lights on. And it's not just good practice. Failing to use your headlights in poor visibility can land you a £50 fine.

Most of us know the two-second rule for following distance in dry conditions. In the rain, you should double that to at least four seconds. On ice or snow, you need to increase it even further, up to ten times the normal distance. That might feel excessive, but stopping distances on ice are dramatically longer than most people realise.

Don't tailgate. Even if the driver in front of you is going slowly, they might be going slowly for a good reason. Give yourself room to react. If someone brakes suddenly on a wet or icy road, those extra seconds could be the difference between a near miss and an insurance claim.

Sometimes, even with the best precautions, accidents still happen. If you're involved in a road traffic accident in Scotland, Scottish Accident can help. We've been helping people with motor accident claims for over 35 years. We handle everything from vehicle recovery and hire cars to injury claims and dealing with the other driver's insurer.

You can start a claim online or, if you've just been in an accident and need help right now, use our emergency line . We'll take care of the rest.