One car breaks down every seven seconds

An estimated 1m motorists will find themselves in need of roadside assistance in the winter months between December and February.

Breakdown cover provider ETA analysed the records of 800,000 customers and found that over the same period last year, one car in Britain broke down every 7 seconds day and night.

Cars are most likely to break down in the cold winter months as a result of a flat battery.

Many parts of the engine face strain during a cold start on a winter’s morning; the starter motor is turning an engine full of thick oil and the ignition system is working with fuel that is colder than usual. Modern cars are well up to the job of starting reliably on even the most bitter of mornings, but heaters, lights, heated windows and even the satnav place all place additional demand on the battery.

Your local garage can test your battery very quickly and if there is any doubt over its condition at this time of year it’s wise to invest in a new one.