The Mail Online has reported that Britain could be on course for the coldest February in 24 years. With freezing temperatures and forecasts of more snow, rush hour chaos could be a real problem for motorists this month. The freezing conditions will continue over the weekend with some areas experiencing overnight lows of -6 degrees with more snow to follow.

The wintery conditions have taken their toll on the emergency services during the heaviest snow falls, meaning getting to and from the hospital can be a real problem. Back in January, 4x4 vehicles showed their off-roading abilities, helping numerous people get to where they needed to get. Shaun Looker from Cheadle, Staffordshire is a paramedic with the West Midlands Ambulance Service, and is so convinced of the importance of 4x4 vehicles, that in a story reported on BBC News he has been quoted as saying weve been using these vehicles to help any ambulances that have got stuck in snow or ice, and even helping patients get to hospital and back if necessary.

Many people will have experienced the dreaded rush hour this morning as the snow hit yesterday afternoon creating a white wintery blanket, disguising the dangers lurking below. Even airports have been affected due to the heavy snowfall, with Birmingham Airport amongst those that experienced delays and cancellations.

In 2009, 4x4s were criticized for being Chelsea Tractors and had a lot of bad press, but with the snowy conditions sweeping through the UK, the reputation of 4x4s is becoming a more heroic one. This shift has caused sales figures to soar and has moved 4-wheel vehicles back into the publics favour.

It seems as though motorists are becoming fed up with the hassle their conventional cars are causing them and are choosing a 4x4 that’s able to handle all the snow has to offer, reports ezinearticles.com.

Tip:

The number of driven wheels<br> You may not know this, but the average 4x4 is really only two wheel drive. Jack one rear wheel and one front wheel off the ground, and you will note that the wheels in the air are the ones to spin, not the ones on the ground. Even if your 4x4 has a rear limited slip differential, the same scenario applies. So, what can be done to help in this situation? Well, this is the reason a lot of four wheel drivers fit diff locks. A diff lock fitted to just the rear diff, means that if you have three wheels in the air, the one rear wheel on the ground is enough to continue forward motion. The wheel in the air will spin at exactly the same rate as the one on the ground.