Three out of four UK drivers will not be taking any steps to make sure their cars are prepared for winter despite recent sub-zero temperatures, snowfalls and the promise of more to come.

All the major motoring organisations advise motorists to carry out a range of checks and safety measures and the Met Office is predicting a colder winter than in recent years. Yet a survey undertaken by Motorpoint, the UK’s leading car supermarket, saw 75% of respondents admit they would be motoring on without precautions and hoping for the best.

The statistics are not in their favour. The AA puts extra patrols on call because they expect the number of breakdowns to almost double during particularly cold spells. Another breakdown service reports 50% of winter calls for help are caused by battery problems

Motorpoint operations director Paul Winfield said: “The British have always had their own special relationship with the weather. But we were surprised by the extent to which drivers are prepared to ignore the obvious threat posed by longer nights and worsening weather and risk a breakdown or even an accident.

“As the first automotive retailer to be a member of RoadSafe, we would always recommend our customers to listen to their motoring organisation’s advice on winter motoring and also to take advantage of the low cost winter preparation checks most garages now offer.