We don’t get the extremes of winter here that happen even in our nearest neighbour country. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t prepare our cars for the winter.

We’re going to get a touch of frost soon. And we’re already getting damp again, and the combination of low temperatures and damp will make a big burst of calls to local car dealers for emergency starts.

You can do a lot to help by taking a little time around the car yourself. Even under the bonnet if your car is an older model where everything is accessible.

For example, the ignition system may need extra help to stay dry. Your garage or forecourt should be able to supply a suitable aerosol spray for the ignition leads and distributor. But clean them well first, get the dust off, because that makes a holder of moisture which can cause short circuits and misfiring.

Clean battery terminals and smear them with petroleum jelly to prevent corrosion. Top up the battery if necessary. Lights, heaters, stereos, in-car computers, phone re-chargers and all the other electrical equipment in the car put it under heavy strain. Also, check spark plug gaps if your car is an older model and you can get at them easily.

Make sure that the antifreeze in the car is fresh. It should be changed every two years due to the deterioration of the corrosion inhibitors. If you have your car serviced by a garage, check your bill to make sure this is done. We haven’t had serious frosts in Ireland for some years, but that doesn’t mean they’ve gone away for good.

When you do refill, make sure you use the recommended type and quantity of antifreeze for your vehicle. Before replacing it, check that the various hoses are sound and not about to fail. Winter can put that final strain on old hoses, and losing coolant is at best messy and at worst seriously damaging to an engine. Again, on older cars, you should have your garage check the radiator cap pressure to make sure it is functioning correctly.

Other things to do include checking that the screen wash is not clogged and that the bottle is topped up for use. You can use an additive to stop it freezing if you live in a cold area (remember, for example, that typical night temperatures in County Kildare can be as much as 6deg colder than in the city on any winter night).

Check windscreen wipers for wear and replace them if necessary.

Make sure that all heaters and ventilation systems are in working order so that misting is minimised.

Give all external lights and mirrors a thorough once-over. They should be cleaned if dirty: One out of five drivers say they don’t always bother to clean mirrors and windows before setting off. Headlamps should be correctly aligned.

Check that tyres are properly inflated and kept in good condition (no cuts or cracks) to ensure safe driving. The legal minimum depth of tread is 1.6mm on each tyre. Unfortunately two thirds of drivers don’t know this. And do YOU know what tyre pressures are applicable to your car? You should be checking them every week.

If the worst happens, and you can be certain that if it does, it is most likely to be on a wet night, have a few basic emergency items. Torch, jump leads,warning triangle, first-aid kit, a rope

In the winter driving, be sure that your lights settings match the driving conditions. If those conditions change during your journey, alter your light settings accordingly.

For example if you use front and rear fog lights unnecessarily you will be breaking the law. It is an offence to use them on a clear night, when they could dazzle other road users (an offence committed by three out of five Irish drivers on our random checks, but we’ve never seen anyone prosecuted for it).

Fog is still one of the most potent impediments to safe driving. Other culprits include rain, ice, sleet, and snow. All of these elements can lead to dangerous driving conditions, but cannot cause accidents without the assistance of one vital catalyst, usually provided by the driver.

Stopping distances double in the rain, and when roads are icy they can increase ten times. You should always keep well back from the vehicle in front, but in the winter you should be even further back.

In simple terms, if you drive too fast, you could end up losing control of the car and find yourself skidding. This can be rectified by easing off the brake or accelerator and steering in the direction of the skid.

Tactics are different if your car has an anti lock breaking system (ABS), and you are driving under more normal conditions. When stopping in an emergency using ABS, apply the foot brake firmly and quickly and do not reduce pressure until the vehicle has slowed. ABS should also assist with steering control.

Very few people know how to use ABS, and may well have grown up with the old advice to use cadence braking. If your car has ABS, then take it to a quiet road, and after making sure that there are no other vehicles or people around, do an emergency stop to get the feel of it. When ABS cuts in, you’ll feel a strong vibration of the brake pedal under your foot. Resist the temptation to lift off.

After all that, safe motoring.