Tips for winter car journeys?

[AlexMumsnetCars]

If the latest weather forecasts are anything to go by, we're in for another big freeze this winter. What are your tips for arriving anywhere in one piece (and preferably stress-free) when the temperature, visibility and angle of the sun all make a nosedive?

Get something powerful and rear wheel drive and arrive everywhere with a massive grin!

Leave plenty of time for your journey
Check your tyres for wear and inflation
Clean your windscreen inside and out (really helps visibility in low sun)
Fill up with screenwash at a higher concentration than in summer
Always carry an emergency kit of water, snack, blanket, boots, coat, hat, gloves, thick socks and torch.
If really bad weather may turn up, carry thermal cups, hot choc sachets, tinned beans with sausages, big flask of boiling water and handwarmer sachets so if you got stuck you'll be warm and fed. If not, you've only wasted some boiling water.

When pulling away do so in second gear
Don't bloody brake suddenly going downhill/ round corners. Instead, Take your foot off the accelerator in plenty of time & go down the gears
CLEAR the snow off your car especially the roof. Otherwise when you do brake/ go downhill all the snow will slide.
Leave plenty of time to do your journey.

Halfords night before deicer
Winter tyres (or Autosocks as a cheap occasional use alternative)