What a picture this morning! Yesterday a stunning sunset (see blog Changing weather); today over six inches of snow.

Of course, such snow is not uniform across Britain. But the likelihood is that it’s going to spread. So it’s going to get worse.

So should you drive to work? My advice is no. In this weather you are likely to end up stuck, have an accident…or be hit by somebody else. So the risk is great: and what will it prove?

Probably best to work at home on your pc if that’s possible. It will be more productive and less risky.

Of course for some people making a journey today is critical. So good luck to those – but if your journey is non-critical, I think it would be best not to. It’s a very different experience; and not one we are used to in Britain.

I have driven in snow on several occasions. The most scary was on a photoshoot in Italy. We were up a mountain, the light was fading at speed, and the snow was falling heavily. We had two cars – and mine was a Ford Mondeo estate (the subject of the photoshoot) and it was a V6 model. Hmmnn…not ideal. The art director and photographer were in the other car.

In the end we had to drive back down the mountain – in reverse. In the dark. And with a sheer drop on one side. I’ve done a few pressure things in my life but that was close to the top of the list. And really, a V6 car with big fat tyres was just not what you wanted!

Anyway, if you do need to drive, here’s some excellent advice from the AA:

Driving in snow and ice

• Stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice and snow.

• Gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving.

• Wear comfortable, dry shoes: cumbersome, snow-covered boots will slip on the pedals.

• Select second gear when pulling away, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.

• Try to maintain a constant speed, choosing the most suitable gear in advance to avoid having to change down while climbing a hill.

• When driving downhill, choose third or fourth gear to prevent skidding.

• Always apply brakes gently. Release them and de-clutch if the car skids.

• If you have an automatic, then under normal driving conditions (motorways, etc) it’s best to select ‘Drive’ and let the gearbox do the work throughout the full gear range. In slippery, snowy conditions you can make driving much safer by selecting ‘2’, which limits the gear changes and also makes you less reliant on the brakes. Many modern autos have a ‘Winter’ mode which locks out first gear to reduce the risk of wheel spin. Check the handbook if you’re not sure.

• If you do get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels. Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip. Once on the move again, try not to stop until you reach firmer ground.

You can see this and more driving advice here: www.theaa.com/motoring_advice

…best not to is the advice