WINTER has arrived and with it comes the hazards of driving in wet and cold conditions.

Halfords is advising drivers to check their bulbs, wiper blades and windscreens to ensure good visibility whatever type of weather winter brings.

According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, during winter “the biggest single danger to any driver is being unable to see properly”, so it's time to make some essential checks to ensure your car is fit for driving in winter conditions.

First thing on the checklist are your lights. Halfords offers five simple tips to ensure your lights illuminate the road this winter:

1 Clean your headlights regularly.

2 If the light fails make sure it's the bulb that's faulty by checking the fuse first.

3 Ensure you fit the correct bulb for your car.

4 Take care when handling replacement halogen bulbs. You should always protect the bulb with a soft clean cloth.

5 Think ahead. Always carry a spare bulb kit just in case, which is a legal requirement in some European countries.

Halfords range of bulbs covers 99 per cent of cars on the roads in the UK, and are easily fitted which means no changes to the wiring of your vehicle are required. This includes Halfords All Weather Headlight Bulbs which are available from £7.99 and provide improved visibility by reducing glare in severe weather conditions. Halfords Brilliance Headlight Bulbs use advanced xenon gas technology to offer up to 30 per cent more brightness and also cost from £7.99.

Wiper blades must be checked for winter. If they are worn or broken, wipers can leave grimy smears on the windscreen and their effectiveness is considerably reduced. Wipers need to be replaced at least once a year, or whenever necessary.