A driving instructor has issued three crucial safety tips motorists must follow this week as Storm Chandra batters the UK. The Met Office has put an amber weather warning in place, with 290 flood alerts active as of Tuesday morning (January 27) and gusts reaching up to 80mph forecasted in certain areas.

A number of major roads and bridges have already closed in both directions due to the treacherous conditions. "In these kind of conditions there's a lot of spray and surface spray, so it's a good idea to put your headlights on," advised instructor Mark Zondo, who shares driving tips as Theory Test Hero on social media.

He added: "With dipped headlights, this way it is going to be easier for other drivers to see you."

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Mark also highlighted that failing to switch on your lights - even during daylight hours - makes it significantly harder for lorry drivers to spot you, especially when they're switching lanes.

Regarding spacing between vehicles, meanwhile, he recommended keeping a "nice" distance from the motor ahead. "You can't really see much for one, there's a lot of spray and also the road is very slippery because of the wet and so you don't want to be too close in case you have to brake suddenly," he explained.

Demonstrating his final piece of advice, Mark eased his foot off the accelerator gradually instead of hitting the brake sharply to decelerate his vehicle safely amid the torrential rain.

The initial weather alerts took effect at midnight on Tuesday and are set to remain active for 17 hours.

Forecasters are predicting rainfall totals of 20-30mm across the impacted regions, with some spots potentially seeing between 40-50mm.

The Met Office has also cautioned that there will be a "sharp increase" in snow accumulation at higher altitudes, with the likelihood of two to five centimetres settling in areas above roughly 300m, five to 10cm above 400m, and 10-20cm above 500m.

In response to Storm Chandra, National Highways has issued its own guidance. "Road users are advised to plan ahead, avoid unnecessary travel where possible, and allow extra time for journeys," they stated.

"Drivers should be aware that surrounding local roads may also be affected by flooding and should not attempt to drive through floodwater."

Speaking more widely about the flooding concerns, National Highways revealed that expert crews will be checking carriageway drainage infrastructure, including gullies, culverts and ditches, looking for obstructions from leaves, silt and debris swept along by heavy downpours.

"If drainage systems are overwhelmed or obstructed, water cannot recede naturally, prolonging closure times," the transport body warned.