A new report for the RAC Foundation, dubbed "Ploughing On" has indicated motorists and fleet drivers should consider changing their driving habits in a bid to cope with the most extreme winter weather conditions on the nation's motorways. The report suggests councils and the Highways Agency responded well to the more extreme periods of wintry weather experienced across the UK during the early stages of 2013. However, changing weather conditions could mean fleets have to adopt new strategies to allow their drivers cope effectively. The report, written by Brian Smith, a former director of Environment and Transport at Cambridgeshire County Council and member of government-commissioned Quarmby Winter Resilience Review in 2010, indicates the authorities have warmed to the task of dealing with extreme winter road conditions. However, drivers have been encouraged to be better prepared for next winter, with the report saying motorists need more advice on the potential benefits of winter tyres, and other features such as snow socks and snow chains, that can save lives and precious cash. Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, agrees that awareness and preparation for extreme weather periods is an increasingly important issue. "The reality is that the climate is an evolving beast. No longer can we regard periods of severe weather as isolated incidents," he said. "They seem to be getting more frequent and more extreme and the impact of one compounds the effects of another. "When we are warm and snug in our modern cars it is tempting to think we are immune from the elements and have the technological resources to deal with whatever nature might throw at us _ but the experience is that we do not. We need to consider revising our view of what is 'normal'. As the climate appears to change we should not confuse extreme weather with rare weather. "As ever there is a balance to be struck between need, expectations and expense. Councils could put a gritter and a snow plough round every corner if that is what the public desire but the trade-off is greatly reduced expenditure on other essential services."