THE washout summer caught many of Britain's drivers out, so don't let winter do the same if conditions take a turn for the drastic.

A sodden summer doesn't necessarily mean a nightmare winter, but temperatures drop noticeably post-Guy Fawkes night, and many engines will have already begun their seasonal bout of coughing and spluttering.

And while car maintenance is vitally important, the driver, too, must be prepared for both sudden drops in temperature and the misfortune of being stranded in severe weather.

"If you look after your car it will look after you," says mechanic Phil Hall of Parkstone MOT Centre.

"You should always check your tyre pressures and make sure you get the anti-freeze topped up.

"Be sure to keep your windows and mirrors clean and your windscreen demisted.

"I don't think people need to spend a lot of money on survival kits, but you would probably want to keep some blankets in the car and some water - if you get stuck on Dartmoor it's a long walk to a hotel!"

As Phil says, a winter coat, thick blanket and a pair of warm sturdy boots, plus woollen socks, take up little boot space, yet they're as necessary as a can of de-icer and accompanying screen scraper as the nights continue to draw in.

Pop a couple of long-life snacks into the glove compartment, plus an energy drink, in case of extensive delays, and it wouldn't hurt to stow a shovel in the luggage compartment alongside year-round items such as a torch and spare batteries, warning triangle, towrope, jump leads and first-aid kit.

Never, ever, forget a fully-charged mobile phone for all car journeys, either.

Taking a car into a local garage, or specialist fast-fit operation, for a winter check will save both time and money in the long run, and help to keep engines running smoothly through the harsh weather.

"To be fair, I don't think people spend as much time as they should keeping their cars up together," says Phil.

"Although a lot of people have their car serviced regularly, you still need to keep an eye on it, but we all tend not to worry about the car until it goes wrong."

ATS Euromaster is one outfit currently running a free vehicle health check campaign, and the no-obligation inspections are available at any of ATS Euromaster's 490 service centres across the UK.

The check, covering for any make, model, and age of car or van, takes 15 minutes, and doesn't need pre-booking.

It covers tyre tread depth, tyre condition, tyre pressure and includes visual inspections of front brakes, battery, exhaust and shock absorbers, with a written report issued on completion.

Heed Shell's advice, too, when it comes to engine oil: don't delay an oil change for one more day - or, worse still, top-up with the wrong kind of lubricant.

The oil company says the average 35 litres of oil in an engine sump may need to disperse over 6lb of soot particles between scheduled oil changes - and these particles can clump together and cause wear in critical areas, such as around valves.

Don't risk long-term damage, Shell adds, get it right - or your car could spend a long time in the workshop being put right.

That's the last thing any driver needs at this time of year.

Remember, too, that a flat battery is the most common reason for a vehicle failing to start in winter.

Both the AA and RAC say that flat batteries account for almost 20 per cent of all vehicle breakdowns in the UK, and anyone who drives short journeys, and leaves headlights on and heaters blowing while in traffic, is more likely to be left stranded.

Leaving the interior light on after parking is the most common cause of a flat battery, but mail order components specialist Car Parts Direct says it is often just a battery re-charge that's needed, and not a replacement battery.

The firm's solution for getting a flat battery started fast is a special charger that can boost start a vehicle in around 15 minutes.

The Sparkrite Booster can totally re-charge a completely flat unit up to 10 times faster than some ordinary chargers, and it costs £49.

The firm also has a free online checklist explaining how to check an alternator and starter motor at carparts-direct.co.uk Finally, few drivers are aware that special cold weather tyres are on the market - Scandinavian drivers, for instance, consider them a necessity.

Kumho, which supplies cold weather wheel covers, advises that, as temperatures drop below 7C, the traction and braking performance of standard tyres is affected.

The firm can supply tyres for all wheel sizes, from 13-inch upwards, including run-flats for BMWs.

For further details, log on to kumhotyre.co.uk.

But get your winter kit together now - and have the car checked over by experts if you're not a DIY-er.

You won't regret it in the long, cold, run.