CCTV cameras have captured the moment when a motorist lost control on an icy road in in Alfriston, Sussex, flipping her car onto its roof.

Despite the extreme nature of the incident, the woman, said to be in her 20s, escaped with only minor injuries. As she lost control the driver clipped an oncoming car, the driver of which was also relatively unharmed.

Sussex Police released the CCTV footage in order to highlight the dangers of driving in sub-zero temperatures. Road temperatures in Sussex have dipped below zero in recent days.


Sussex Police (YouTube)

"It could have been far worse," said Sergeant Dan Pitcher.

"Listen out for road noise - if this disappears at any stage, it may mean you are driving on ice," he advised.

The Met Office forecasts that temperatures will fall below zero over the next few days nationwide, with snow expected in some regions by the middle of the week.

Lindsay Mears, from the Met Office, said: "Into Wednesday we are expecting another very cold day with some patchy snow on low levels in central and eastern parts of the UK.

"More cold air will move in, bringing rain, sleet and strong winds, possibly turning to snow over lower levels as far as London," she said.


Tips for driving on icy roads

  • Only make the journey if it is absolutely necessary
  • Clear your windows properly before you begin driving
  • Meeting up with someone? Tell them your route and expected arrival time
  • Leave a much larger gap between you and the car in front – up to ten times the normal distance might be advisable in extreme conditions.
  • If you find yourself skidding, steer into the skid – do not hit the brakes or accelerator
  • Operation of brakes, accelerator, gears and steering should all be done slowly
  • Consider using a higher gear when moving off on packed ice – it may help your tyres grip the ice.