Stephen Hammond, the UK road minister, has urged drivers to prepare for severe weather conditions this winter.

According to research conducted by the UK Highways Agency, 49% of drivers overlook severe weather warnings, while 29% do not prepare vehicles for the season.

Hammond said that drivers have to make themselves and their vehicles ready for severe weather; vehicles are more prone to breakdowns due to the fall in temperature, while a regular incident or breakdown can become more serious.

"Any broken-down vehicles can have a big impact on our motorways and trunk roads, making it harder for road salting vehicles and snow ploughs to operate," he said.

In order to encourage drivers to prepare for winter journeys, the Highways Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Transport, has launched the Make Time for Winter campaign.

The campaign recommends drivers to follow a few simple steps such as checking vehicle’s fuel and fluid levels, electrics and tyres, carrying an emergency kit with warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch, a spade and any regular medication, and listening to weather forecasts and travel bulletins.

"49% of drivers overlook severe weather warnings, while 29% do not prepare vehicles for the season."

With around 300 partner organisations, the campaign uses a mix of partnership marketing and traditional, digital and social media to spread its two key messages: be prepared and be informed.

The organisations include recovery companies, motoring and road haulage organisations, local authorities, government departments and freight-dependent retailers.

The Highways Agency is also working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads, by providing real-time traffic information for motorways and other strategic roads in England using a range of channels, such as the web and national and local radio stations.

The agency said that it has kept 500 winter vehicles, including salt spreaders, ploughs and snow blowers, on standby at over 100 depots to help keep traffic moving in the winter season.