Snow 'can damage vehicle's vital parts'

Motorists are being urged to have vital parts of their vehicles checked over this winter in a bid to identify damage caused by the snowy and icy conditions and help drivers avoid car insurance claims.

According to wheel firm Protyre, snow-covered roads may impact on vehicle wheels and conceal potholes, but the white stuff can also play havoc with other vehicular elements, such as windscreen wipers and batteries.

The firm commented: "Cold weather slows down the chemical reaction that generates the current in the battery, meaning batteries run down quickly and fail to supply the power required."

It has announced that it will now offer motorists free battery checks at its outlets nationwide and is urging drivers to check their battery's condition to avoid being unable to start their vehicle.

Additionally, the firm warns that motorists could find their windscreen wiper blades become frozen to their screens. In such situations drivers are urged not to operate them as this could cause a fuse to blow and even result in the wiper seizing.

"Even if the wipers are working, Protyre advises against using them to clear frost and ice, as this can degrade the rubber on the wiper blades," it added.

Auto repair firm Kwik-Fit recently revealed that motorists may be making things worse for themselves by being unprepared for the bad weather.

A study by the firm showed one in six drivers have not readied themselves for a breakdown while one-tenth are taking to the icy roads on wheels with an illegal tread depth level, potentially risking more than a van insurance claim.

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The views expressed within the article are entirely those of Adfero Ltd and are not those of the BGL Group