How to stop gritted winter roads from destroying your car – and why it’s so important

ICE- and snow-covered roads have been wreaking havoc on British motorists of late, but as arctic temperatures ease slightly, there is still plenty of concern for drivers.

While treacherous black ice and thick snow are of the biggest immediate concern during the coldest months, ice-melting salt could pose long-term damage to millions of cars across the UK.

Road salt lowers the freezing point of water and chemically reverts it back from ice, but it is also increases the electrical conductivity of water, making it an extremely corrosive element.

This means that the grit used by local authorities to help make our roads safer could actually be doing damage to your car by accelerating the process of rust.

Driving on grit-covered roads will inevitably see a collection of salt on the underneath of your vehicle, and for the majority of drivers who don't wash it off each time they drive, the combination of snow and salt remaining can have a catastrophic impact on the mechanisms underneath their car.

Drivers are at risk of damaging some of the most crucial parts of their motor, including the engine, exhaust systems, hydraulic brakes and structural body work.

The best way to combat this problem is to give your car a regular wash underneath, especially around wheels arches and sills.

Simply hosing underneath your vehicle after you drive is enough to remove a significant amount of stored grit.

Making sure you repair any paint chips in your car's bodywork immediately can also help to protect against rust caused by exposure to road salt.

In addition to corrosion on the outside of your vehicle, salt can also damage your car's interior.

Floor panels and doors can be subject to rust if salt is brought in by the driver or passengers.

Remembering to wipe your feet before entering the vehicle will help reduce the amount of salt that gets inside during the winter months, while regular vacuuming and the use of rubber floor mats are good ways to manage the possibility of corrosion.

RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “Road grit tends to cause more problems for older cars as they have less protection from the corrosive properties of the salt.

"Fortunately, due to the way newer cars are made they are much more resistant to corrosion.

“This is mainly due to different materials used in the construction, such as plastics and composites and more advanced paint technologies.

"The biggest danger for cars is salt-laden slush being sprayed into the engine bay and other areas where it could eventually damage exposed electrical connections through the corrosive effects of the salt."