Updated – June 2025.

Insight:

Several years ago, all this would have seemed like complete fiction. However, the latest news repeatedly states that the UK is being put on a war footing and that we should ‘prepare’.

The threat from hostile states has never been so high in recent decades. While the notion of a World War is a possibility, it still remains, in our opinion, highly unlikely. However, while an all-out global war may be remote, there is an increased chance of an attack on UK soil, which could take on numerous forms, including cyber attacks, blackouts or in more extreme situations, tactical missile strikes or invasion.

While we are not experts in warfare or predicting how things may or could develop in the future, there is a growing focus on helping people be prepared. This includes knowing what supplies you should have in your home, what to do in the event of a nuclear attack, and so on, With this in mind here is a brief guide for defensive driving tips anyone could use should the worst happen and you find yourself needing to drive in what essentially could be a war zone.

While we have tried to avoid over-dramatisation, some of the points below may seem far-fetched, but outline how serious things may get, should the worst happen.

Why would you drive during a conflict?

While driving will be discouraged or possibly even disallowed, there may be reasons why you need to drive when you’re in a zone of conflict. These could include:

1. Having to seek medical attention
2. Attend to someone in need
3. Accessing supplies
4. To travel to your place of work
5. Other essential reasons

Initial preparation:

Whether you are driving in a war zone or not, there are some essential safety checks we recommend, which will be even more vital in times of conflict.

POWDERY – This is what we cover during our “peace-time” advanced/defensive driving courses. Before you drive, you need to check the following.

P – Petrol (or diesel/electric). Ensure you have sufficient fuel for your journey. In a conflict, this is critical as many fuel stations may not be open. Make sure you keep your fuel as close to full as possible. Do not let your vehicle’s fuel drop too low, as you may not know when you can next refuel or how quickly you may need to respond to an emergency. If you have an EV, charge it after each journey, if you can, as you will never know when you could be hit with a power cut.

Having stored fuel is also a good idea, but exercise caution. In the UK, you can store up to 30 litres of petrol at home or a non-workplace premises without needing a licence or notifying your local Petroleum Enforcement Authority. If you plan to store more than 30 litres, and up to a maximum of 275 litres, you must tell your local Petroleum Enforcement Authority in writing. There is no legal limit on the amount of diesel you can store at home, as long as it’s stored in the correct way. Refer to this page on gov.uk for more info. Store fuel in suitable, safe containers that are free of leaks and designed to prevent liquid and vapour escape.

O – Oil. Checking the oil before a long journey is important, as is doing it regularly. This really focuses the driver on making sure their vehicle is in a well-serviced condition and not just leaving it until its annual service to check these things. If you have to drive in a potential war zone or area of conflict, it’s incredibly important that your vehicle is reliable. Simple checks, like checking the oil, could avert an easily avoided breakdown.

W – Water. The same sentiment as oil, making sure your vehicle has enough coolant, is vital. Water also applies to screenwash. You may need to wash your screen more frequently if you are in an area with damaged road surfaces, which can cause more dust or debris, or if you have to drive off-road.

D – Damage. You should regularly check your vehicle for damage. In an area of conflict, damage can be a significant issue and may render your vehicle undrivable. During most of our on-road courses, we outline key things to check, like damage to the bodywork or lights and wipers etc. The same applies in a war zone, but you need to consider what potential damage may happen to your vehicle, and if such happens, could it cause vehicle immobilisation? Examples include damage from blasts and damage from driving off-road or driving on destroyed roads.

E – Electrics. Making sure your headlights and brake lights work are simple yet essential checks you should always do. In situations of conflict, you may not be overly concerned if you have a brake light out. But you need to make sure you’re as safe and visible as possible. Electrics also covers checking the condition of your vehicle’s battery, horn, and any other essential component that is electrically reliant.

R – Rubber. Tyre checks are essential at all times. In an area of conflict, they can become quickly damaged, so it’s important you’re aware of their condition before and after a journey. Take one or more spare wheels/tyres if you can. Also, keep several cans of foam tyre inflators in your vehicle, such as Holts Tyrefoam. They offer a quick and easy repair should you have a puncture.

Y – Yourself. As unlikely as this situation is to ever arise. If you need to drive in an area which has possibly become a war zone consider yourself, how fit are you to drive? Driving could be incredibly stressful. You may be tired, scared, angry, hungry, and overly concerned about what you may encounter during your journey or at its end. Be aware of this – avoid taking excessive risks for ‘a noble cause’ by describing your driving situation calmly and dispassionately. This can help stop the red mist coming down – this is a point emergency drivers are taught. Keep as safe as you can and avoid taking further unnecessary risks. Red mist refers to the psychological state that drivers can experience when they are driving in stressful situations, such as driving to attend the scene of an emergency or pursuing a criminal at speed. The red mist can affect anyone, and renders a driver unable to realistically assess the risks they are taking.

Your POWDERY checks are now complete. You’re ready to drive. But also consider these points:

Maps – Before you leave, make sure you know where you are going. If you are not sure, take paper maps. Additionally, iPhone users can download maps for offline use. You can do this by accessing the maps app. Click on your initials; you will then see an option for offline maps. You can fence an area, and then download the map for that given area. If you decide to download most of the UK you will be looking at around 7gb of space. The smaller the area, the less space and download resources are needed. Offline maps will be essential if there is no network available or severe network disruption. You can download numerous map areas and save them. This will be available for other smartphones – research online for these exact instructions.

Make sure your phone is charged, with charged power banks. Also, take a windup/solar-powered radio with you.

Food and Water – It may not be easy to stop at a service station for food and drink. Take plenty with you. A lot more than you would in peacetime.

Vehicle First Aid – As mentioned above, make sure you have essentials like a spare wheel or wheels, that you are able to change them, if you have locking wheel nuts, do you have the key? And will you be able to crack them with only a handheld wrench? What about a jack? A good tyreweld will help lots here. Make sure you have jump leads, or better still, a fully charged, powerful battery jumpstarter, along with a tow rope. A fire extinguisher is another useful item to have. Make sure you have more than enough fuel. With modern vehicles, there is only so much you will be able to do at the roadside.

General First Aid – Make sure you have plenty of first aid with you, which should also include plenty of bandages and tourniquets.

Tell someone where you are going, what route you will take and if possible, update them on your location, especially if you need to venture off-road or away from the intended route. If something happens, at least they will know your last noted location. Also consider a check-in time – agree that you will touch base with them once an hour, every hour if practical.

Route Considerations – In peacetime, your main concerns would be avoiding traffic jams and areas where there are excessive roadworks. In a war zone, considerations are much more extreme to say the least. You should gather up-to-date intelligence on road conditions, front-line shifts, and known ambush or IED hotspots from reliable sources such as military briefings or humanitarian agencies. Many of these will not be freely available to civilians. Daylight driving reduces the risk of hidden roadside threats; avoid night driving wherever possible. If there is a risk of ambush, never travel the same road repeatedly; varying your path helps avoid predictability.

Forward Planning and Scanning – Our advanced driving courses place a strong emphasis on planning and observation. Driving in an area of conflict is no exception. But there will be things to look out for, which will be alien for most. If you have to drive in particularly dangerous areas, look for disturbed earth, wiring across the road or unusual objects that may conceal explosives.

Checkpoints – If you come across checkpoints, slow down but not too slowly, and maintain a steady crawl. A sudden stop could be seen as hostile. Keep any identification documents handy, as they may be asked for at any checkpoints.

Avoid – Avoid areas near military bases, bridges, airports, or fuel depots — all likely targets.

Under attack – In the most of extreme situations, if you find yourself caught in a crossfire or even under attack, don’t exit the vehicle unless it’s on fire or has been immobilised after a hit; if it has, crawl to cover. Avoid running over open ground. If you’re being chased, try and avoid being in line of sight. You may not be able to outrun an assailant, but it makes it harder for them to get a target on you if you’re out of their line of sight. Drive in a fast, disorganised zigzag way.

What about a nuclear attack?

Even more remote is the risk of a nuclear attack. However, as remote as such an attack could be, there is always a (very) small risk. Should this happen, here are some points to consider should you need or be able to drive after such a horrific event.

After a nuclear blast, the first 24–48 hours are the most lethal due to fallout radiation. If possible, shelter in place for at least 72 hours, ideally underground or in thick-walled buildings. You should use tools like Nukemap (pre-event) or Geiger counters (post-event) to plan travels. You should only drive if you’re outside the fallout plume area, are heading to shelter or an area of less radiation, and you have protective gear. A high-altitude nuclear blast will cause an electromagnetic pulse, which will disable most modern cars. If your vehicle manages to work, keep windows closed with air conditioning on recirc.

When driving, it’s safer to stick to rural routes and avoid urban areas, which are most likely to be in ruin and with the most chaos and radiation. Stay clear of bridges and tunnels, which may be structurally insecure.

Fallout collects on low ground, gutters, vehicles, and roadside debris. Avoid driving through visible dust, ash, or puddles — radioactive materials stick to surfaces.

After your journey, take your clothes off outside your shelter and put it in a bag. Shower with soap and cold water. Avoid hot water as it will open your pores. Hose down your vehicle with plenty of water and keep it well away from your safe zone.

Are you concerned?

Please don’t be. Many of the above points are for those driving in the most serious war zones – the likes of which we will probably never see in the UK, even if we do ever come under attack. To further add, the risks of a nuclear attack remain extremely low. Bear in mind, this article looks at the most serious risks, not the most likely.

Whether you’ve decided to read this article as a source of interest, as curious entertainment, or to prepare for the most unlikely, do remember lots of the points above are just common sense advice, which can be applied to many situations, and are certainly not limited to doomsday situations.