Don’t leave your car to defrost unattended in freezing temperatures, drivers warned
Motorists have been warned not to leave their cars unattended and vulnerable to thieves while defrosting their windscreens in this week’s freezing temperatures.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said car insurance policies may be voided if keys are left in the ignition, and the car is then stolen, with policyholders expected to take reasonable care.
The exact terms and conditions of individual policies vary, but the association said people should not leave their vehicle unattended, even for a minute, with the keys in the ignition while it defrosts.
Jonathan Fong, manager of general insurance policy at the ABI, said: “While it might be very tempting to stay in the warmth while your vehicle defrosts, leaving your vehicle unattended is an open opportunity for thieves looking for easy targets in freezing temperatures.
“It is always safer to brave the cold for a short while, than risk your vehicle being stolen.”
The warning was issued after Monday night was forecast to be the coldest of the 2023-24 winter so far, with UK temperatures predicted to drop to -12C, according to the Met Office.
This week Scotland may see overnight conditions plummet to -15C, which would be the lowest January recording in 14 years.
Tom Morgan, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “We are likely to see the coldest January night for 14 years this week, but they are unlikely to fall as low as they did in January 2010 at -22.3C in Altnaharra, Scotland.”
The conditions could bring disruptive snow leading to road closures and power outages in Scotland, Mr Morgan said. Those in affected areas have been told to stock up on food and fuel ahead of potential blackouts.
Drivers have been urged to “go steady” as they face being stranded in Arctic conditions with snow and ice threatening to cause travel disruption across parts of the UK.
National Highways issued a severe weather alert on Monday for snow affecting the North West, with road users advised to plan ahead, and some rural communities warned that access could be temporarily cut off.
Liam Eslick, a Met Office meteorologist, said temperatures would be about 5C to 6C lower than usual for this time of year. A snow and ice warning is in place from 3am on Monday until 9am on Tuesday across Northern Ireland, with another for ice in place until 11am on Monday across parts of north-east Wales and north-west England from Liverpool to the West Midlands.