A SURVEY by Green Flag has revealed motorists are ill-prepared for winter.

Two-thirds of motorists could be heading for trouble for the sake of a quick check under their bonnets, says Green Flag.

Flat batteries are the biggest single cause of winter breakdowns, yet a recent survey by the motoring assistance company has revealed that just a third of motorists ever bother to check their batteries.

A further 18 per cent presume their batteries are checked when the car is serviced.

Nigel Charlesworth, spokesperson for Green Flag, said: "Batteries have a habit of failing in cold and damp conditions. Last winter we attended more than 170,000 breakdown incidents relating to flat batteries, that’s an increase of 60 per cent on the summer months.

“The main reason for the rise is that we put much more strain on our batteries at this time of year, through the use of heaters, de-misters, lights and windscreen wipers. Mod cons, such as electronically controlled mirrors, locks and heated seats, create an even bigger strain, so it is essential that we keep our batteries in top condition.”

Green Flag advises that all batteries should be checked at least once a month during the winter.

To cope with wet, icy or snowy road conditions, it is also vital that tyres are in good shape, yet the Green Flag survey reveals most of us do not check our tyre tread (62 per cent) or the air pressure (66 per cent) on a regular basis. Women drivers are even worse at checking, with less than a quarter (23 per cent) making these essential checks.

A further must is to keep the fuel tank topped up.

The Green Flag survey revealed more than 25 per cent of motorists have run out of petrol, with a further 37 per cent admitting they always leave it until the last minute - when the gauge shows empty - before they fill up.