I am sure this winter 2010, will be recorded as the coldest since probably since the early eighties, this has really caused havoc across all the country.

Many new factories, offices and entertainment halls were closed really making it an extended Christmas holiday, once again the road conditions were as such that many motorists were caught out with local councils running out of salt.

For drivers many who have to park outside their homes over night which they say is about five million, but I wonder how many have really told the insurance company that the vehicle is in a garage over night, I expect the garage is full of old toys and garden tools.

The expensive car is parked outside, surely the garage is better, warmer, no snow gathering on the screen we now have a car full of snow and all the elements parked outside, so what happens in the morning, people rush outside, start the engine leaving it to warm up while they go back indoors to get ready for work, and this is leaving everything wide open to a car thief and committing an offence.

What is now developing is damage to the engine and pollution within the community, as there is now a rich fuel mixture throughout the engine leading to the catalytic converter not being effective for next few minutes after the engine has been started, it is a known fact some catalytic converters can take up to 30 minutes to warm up which reduces time they can convert harmful exhaust fumes into less toxic.

Many people who may of not seen or read a Highway Code will have missed Rule 123 which is Driver and the Environment.

You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road.

Generally if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollutions, however it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults.

The times I have seen vehicles left with the engine running and no driver insight, I am amazed there are not more vehicles stolen, many are seen parked with the driver at the ATM Machines and smoke coming from the exhaust system.

Lets mention the system in the traffic queue when you are stationary, you should apply the parking brake when another vehicle has stopped behind you release the foot brake so your brake lights do not blind or cause glare to the drivers behind.

Again we must comply rule 114 this states you must not use any lights which would dazzle or cause discomfort to any other road users including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

Many years ago to use foot-brake when stationary may have been ok, but today the lights are now much brighter, if you drive an automatic keeping the foot on the brake when in a traffic queue form several minutes can over hear the torque converter and the life of the automatic transmission fluid will be shortened.

An automatic is also liable to creep on tick-over with the speed of the engine.

Modern day engines do not need warming up just start and move away but making sure all windows are clear..