Motorists are being urged to take precautions amid cold weather alerts and warnings across the UK.
Motorists are being advised to keep warm clothes, blankets and flasks of tea in their vehicles as a cold snap begins across the UK.
The RAC said people driving in frosty, icy conditions should prepare to keep warm in the event of breakdowns, which are expected to surge this week.
Temperatures as low as -10C (14F) are predicted overnight in isolated places, with -6C elsewhere.
A severe cold weather alert for England is in place until Monday.
Issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the level three alert runs from 18:00 GMT until 09:00 on 12 December and signals conditions are likely to affect people’s health.
The government is expected to confirm later on Wednesday whether the current cold snap will trigger cold weather support payments for millions of eligible people.
The Met Office said further severe weather warnings might be needed as the week progresses.
Current forecasts predict unseasonable temperatures, well below average for the time of year, in many places into next week.
There is a yellow weather warning for snow and ice in place from midnight on Wednesday until noon on Thursday for northern Scotland.
England’s east coast has a yellow warning, for ice, from 18:00 GMT until 12:00 on Thursday – with temperatures set to drop as low as -3C (26.6F).
And a yellow weather warning also applies to Wales and most of Northern Ireland from midnight until 18:00 on Thursday.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: “UK temperatures will fall with widespread overnight frosts, severe in places, and daytime temperatures only a few degrees above freezing.
“However, the cold air from the Arctic will also bring brighter conditions, with some dry, sunny spells, particularly away from the coast, and where winds are light, it could feel pleasant in the sunshine.
“Some patchy freezing fog is also likely. “
How can I keep my baby warm?
Babies and children under five are more at risk in cold weather.
One of the best ways to keep babies warm is to use layers, the NHS advises on its website.
At night it is better to adjust the temperature by using a number of lightweight blankets.
Health officials have urged people to heat the rooms they use most, in response to concerns that mounting energy costs could prevent some people from switching on their heating.
In Natalie McNab’s living room in County Durham, a coal fire glows cosily. But the rest of the house is chilly.
The mum-of-three explained that the central heating “just isn’t going on”. Instead, she is keeping one room warm for her family by day and turns on oil heaters for the kids overnight.
Her daughter has an ear infection she is struggling to shift. “I feel incredibly guilty as a mam, I’d love to put the heating on 24/7,” she said. “We’re trying as much as we can to mitigate the rises and penny pinch where we can, but it’s only going to get worse,” Natalie added.
She explained that, since both she and her husband are in work and not on benefits, they are not eligible for much of the extra support available.
The UKHSA reiterated its long-standing advice for people who cannot heat every room – saying they should warm the living room during the day and bedrooms just before going to sleep, ideally to at least 18C.
Dr Agostinho Sousa of the UKHSA said: “Cold weather can have serious consequences for health, and older people and those with heart or lung conditions can be particularly at risk.
“If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you.”
The cold weather alert for England also requires health care providers to activate special plans, such as arranging gritting services to allow access to critical services and to cover pedestrian hotspots.
But many local councils in England and Wales – who have collectively stockpiled 1.4 million tonnes of salt for this winter – said they were struggling to attract and retain gritter drivers.
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