Newcastle driving instructor offers advice on safe driving in icy weather
All of Staffordshire and Cheshire is affected by a yellow weather warning
Fresh weather warnings have been issued across Staffordshire and Cheshire as the UK continues to be hit by icy weather.
Yellow warnings for ice are active from Thursday through to Friday 10th January as freezing temperatures - in some places as low as -7 C - bring further travel disruption and school closures.
The Met Office has warned to expect icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, as well as scattered wintry showers.
Dave Humphreys runs Intuition Driver Training across Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent.
He said: "You're looking at stopping distances that normally are a two second stopping distance, in the wet it increases to four seconds, but in the snow that can be a ten second stopping distance.
"You're going to need to be sort of walking your car in first gear with your clutch up, especially on places like car parks. Make sure your steering is gentle and your braking is minimal so you don't skid."
Care when approaching junctions and traffic lights
Dave continued: "If your car starts to slide then steer into the skid. If you're not got ABS you need to take off your foot off the brake a little bit. If your rear end is skidding to the left you steer to the left, if your rear end is skidding to the right you steer to the right.
"Plan ahead and make sure your car's got no snow on the roof, because as your car gets warmer that can slide off and you can't see. So defrost all your windows.
"If you can not travel if you need to I'd recommend it. Only go out if you need to and if it's really necessary."
Manchester Airport closed both its runways on Thursday morning "due to significant levels of snow" but they were later reopened.
The airport warned that some flights may be delayed, and advised passengers to check with their airline for the latest information.
At least 14 departures and five arrivals scheduled to operate at the airport on Thursday have been cancelled.
A fault with the signalling system is also causing major disruption between Crewe and Wilmslow, affecting Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Northern and Transport for Wales services.
As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted.
Car insurer RAC said it has seen the highest levels of demand for rescues in a three-day period since December 2022.
"Cold conditions will last until at least the weekend, so we urge drivers to remain vigilant of the risks posed by ice and, in some locations, snow," said RAC breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson.
"Black ice on rural roads can be impossible to spot, leaving very little time to react if driving at speed. Sticking to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted is strongly recommended."
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday.
Amber alerts have been extended and will now run until January 12, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: "We are extending the duration of our Cold-Health Alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist.
"This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
"These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures."
The country has been hit by widespread flooding in recent days and a danger to life flood warning was issued for Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire as firefighters had to rescue dozens of people stranded in rising water.
Scores of flood warnings and alerts remain in place for England but hundreds have been removed and the weather is set to be drier over the next few days.
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