To coincide with National Road Safety Week LeasePlan UK has urged all drivers to consider the implications of their driving decisions as grip levels go down and accident rates go up.

Government statistics reveal more than 6,200 accidents attributable to ice and snow last winter, and those are just the ones that were reported. It’s likely that tens of thousands more small bumps and scrapes happened that were not officially recorded.

David Brennan, Managing Director, LeasePlan UK, said: “While we may be some way away from the first snow flurries, now is the ideal time to start preparing your vehicle for winter conditions.

“Extreme weather, even in the relatively benign UK, should never be underestimated. Sometimes choosing not to travel can be the best preparation of all, so no matter how important that meeting or appointment, consider whether the conditions are really safe for driving.

“Many business drivers will get into their vehicles almost every day of the year, and with this familiarity can come a degree of complacency. Making a few considered preparations can break this cycle and will help drivers ready themselves and their vehicles for the challenges posed by winter weather.”