Many motorists are driving in wintry conditions in cars they know are unsafe, according to a new poll.

As many as 22 per cent of male motorists are venturing out while aware their brakes are poor, while 21 per cent of them have bald tyres, the survey by webuyanycar.com found.

Also, 14 per cent of men are driving without a valid MOT certificate, while 23 per cent of women travel with chipped windscreens or broken lights.

The poll of 3,000 motorists found that 16 per cent travel without a phone in the car. Overall, around 30 per cent of cars were being driven with one fault or another.

At a time when salt from the roads can impair vision, the survey showed that the biggest fault facing drivers was having no windscreen wash. Around 20 per cent were driving with their car overdue for a service, while three per cent had broken seatbelts.

Paul Coulter, of webuyanycar.com, said: "We all love a white Christmas, but cold conditions and long drives over the festive period make it especially important to keep your car in good working order. We'd urge people to get their cars checked before long drives.

"Being a responsible driver isn't simply about how you drive your car; it's as much about making sure that the vehicle you are going to drive is roadworthy. Our research indicates that 30 per cent of cars on the road are a hazard to other road users and we're appealing to everyone to take their responsibility to other road users seriously."