Skip to main content

UK’s Institute of Advanced Motorists launches Wheels in Winter road driving campaign

European skiers may be praying for snow but city dwellers and highway users likely want the white stuff at bay for as long as possible. To help drivers be ready for the inevitable snow, the UK’s Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has launched its national winter campaign Wheels in Winter well ahead of 21 December, the official first day of winter. London’s winters can be milder than for many other major northern European cities, such as Paris, Warsaw and Berlin. But the UK capital’s rainy weather with t
October 14, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
European skiers may be praying for snow but city dwellers and highway users likely want the white stuff at bay for as long as possible. To help drivers be ready for the inevitable snow, the UK’s 5125 Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has launched its national winter campaign Wheels in Winter well ahead of 21 December, the official first day of winter.

London’s winters can be milder than for many other major northern European cities, such as Paris, Warsaw and Berlin. But the UK capital’s rainy weather with temperatures hovering just above freezing means a drop of only 3°C can result in dangerously icy roads, warns IAM, an independent road safety charity.

The UK’s 5432 Department for Transport reported 57,260 cars across England and Wales were involved in accidents as a result of wet, flooded and icy roads in 2013.

Skidding alone resulted in 11,614 major road accidents. Also in the same year, more than 5,000 motorcycle accidents took place.

South East England – the area with the mildest temperatures -- reported 6,675 accidents, the highest for any area in England and Wales.

“The Wheels in Winter campaign is part of a national effort to cut the number of road traffic collisions and incidents,” said IAM chief executive Nick Stonard.

IAM will be issuing weekly advice, reactive weather forecast updates and social media notices to keep safe driving in the minds of road users.

IAM’s commercial division operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Bangkok biker safety programme unveiled
    July 26, 2016
    The authorities in Thai capital Bangkok are launching a new mass media campaign aimed at increasing awareness around helmet use. This is a critical road safety issue in a country where over 60% of motorists use motorcycles. In collaboration with Vital Strategies and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), Bangkok’s campaign will encourage motorcyclists to wear helmets. The campaign will also encourage powered two wheeler riders to properly fasten helmet buckles, a key compone
  • New approach needed in Europe to help improve motorcycle safety
    August 22, 2012
    The European Commission is proposing that part of its controversial new Anti-Tampering regulations for motorcycles should be re-written to prevent custom motorcycle builders from using long-forks. This is the latest in a series of requirements in the regulations to attracted criticisms from motorcycle manufacturers, dealers, safety campaigners and enthusiasts groups.
  • UK’s embarrassing road conditions
    January 17, 2025
    The UK’s roads are a national embarrassment.
  • London roads pose danger for powered two wheeler riders
    June 10, 2015
    There were 127 deaths on London's roads in 2014, according to official figures released by Transport for London (TfL). Of these deaths, 27 were of motorcyclists. Given that motorcyclists still constitute a comparatively small percentage of the total number of road users, this is of concern. Neil Greig, director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists' (IAM) said, "Motorcycling is gaining in popularity in the capital where it offers an excellent solution to London's congestion problems,