What the Met Office considers to be winter – the three months from December to February – is almost upon us, and the threat of severe cold weather is looming.

Although there will soon be lots of speculation about the possibility of a white Christmas, December is still fairly early in the season, with January and February tending to bring the coldest weather and the greatest chance of snow. Even so, the white fluffy stuff could soon be with us.

While all this may look festive and be good news for sledgers, it’s a threat to drivers, but not just in the familiar was. While black ice, poor visibility and even the chance of being snowed in may loom, there are some less expected threats too, which could leave some motorists needing to call for windscreen replacement services.

The Daily Express reports that garage chain Halfords has said windscreen wipers could pose an unexpected problem. Motoring director Richard Bruce said: “You should also make sure to check your wipers and lights for signs of wear and tear or malfunction before you set off.”

He noted that windscreen wipers can cause damage if they are frozen to the windscreen, including the wipers themselves being broken, making motoring more unsafe.

It is not just wipers that could have a problem, however. The Sun has warned that using an ice scraper can also damage the windscreen, especially if the frost on a windscreen has bits of debris like grot in it.

Damage from scrapers or compromised windscreen wipers can create danger for drivers, their passengers and other road users by impeding vision – and this could also lead to fines if drivers are pulled over for having a windscreen with inadequate visibility.

So while the weather itself may throw a lot at your windscreen during the journey, much of the risk level will depend just how well you prepare before you set off.