MOTORISTS HAVE BEEN warned to be careful on roads this January, with temperatures expected to drop despite the mild start to the winter.

Temperatures are expected to drop to -3°C tonight, with widespread frost, icy conditions, black ice, dense fog, and freezing fog all forecast over the next few days.

“It’s been a very mild start to 2013 so far with road temperatures remaining firmly above zero since Christmas,” said Aoife Carragher, Head of AA Roadwatch. “The past week has been much warmer than usual for this time of year and while road surfaces have been wet, drivers have not had to deal with the usual icy January driving conditions. This is set to change tonight however with widespread frost expected and temperatures set to drop as low as -3°C.”

Carragher said the sudden drop in temperature combined with wet road surfaces across the country will result in extremely hazardous conditions for drivers.

“Speed is the greatest hazard on icy roads; the advice from the AA is to slow down, leave more time to complete journeys and keep a safe distance from other vehicles. Frosty roads are often accompanied by misty, murky conditions; dipped headlights should be used to improve visibility and to ensure you can be seen by other drivers,” Carragher said.

Dense fog is expected to linger tomorrow morning, with freezing fog also a possibility. Motorists have also been warned about the possibility of black ice and are reminded to be extremely careful tonight and tomorrow morning on exposed bends, under trees and on higher ground.