Drivers urged to make gearstick change during icy weather

Motorists have been told to always remember one vital gearstick tip when driving on and ice this . 

Car experts at urged road users to use a higher gear when setting off with second gear recommended over first.

Putting a car into higher gears reduces the amount of revs produced and limits the amount of wheelspin.

This will ensure drivers can better keep control of their vehicles and reduce the risk of spinning off in

issued the advice as they explained how motorists should adapt their driving to icy roads this winter. 

They said: “Gently accelerate the vehicle using low revs and shift to a higher gear as quickly as possible. 

“Keep your speed down, be aware of potential hazards, and give yourself enough time to brake and steer. 

“To reduce the chances of the wheels slipping, use the second gear instead of the first gear.”

Specialists at warned using a higher gear gave vehicles the “best chance” of holding onto the road surface, 

It said: “If you’re driving a manual car on icy roads, drive in the highest possible gear that won’t cause your engine to stall or labour. 

“This will give your tyres the best chance of gripping the ice, as a lower gear and higher revs can overwhelm your tyres and lose all that lovely grip. 

“You might need to pull away from a stop in second gear to stop the wheels spinning (and you may need to ride the clutch a little).”

also urged drivers to always use a higher gear in inclement weather. 

However, they stressed some modern automatic vehicles may even have a special “winter mode” button. 

The feature will adjust the settings in the automatic car to always avoid lower gears and higher torque. 

The switch is generally found near the gear shift lever or on the center console and could prove vital this January. 

explained: “Move off in second gear as this will help reduce wheel slip – some cars have a winter mode, which does the same job – so to check whether your car has this function in the vehicle’s handbook.”