Just to share my stupidity in case it encourages others not to do the same...! I managed to crash my car on the way to work this morning after skidding on an icy road - I am ok thankfully, but it could have been a lot worse (was driving quite slowly as I could see ice patches, managed to skid down a shallow ditch and into a hedge backwards rather than nose first into one of the many big trees along the road). I thought I'd be fine as I'm a pretty careful and confident driver and don't like to make a fuss about a bit of bad weather, but have to say I feel really shaken up now, thinking how lucky I (and the baby - I'm 24 weeks) was not to come off worse. And it's not so important, but my poor car will be in the garage for 2 weeks having its crumpled backside fixed 
, leaving me with the problem of finding another way to get to work through the snow and ice in the meantime (can't work from home)...
So if you're another person who has to drive for work, please don't be gung-ho like me, try and stick to main roads you know are gritted and avoid any journeys to more remote places. Just though I'd share in case others are thinking about driving on icy roads...