Motorists may be stopped by police to check their car over from next week to make it is fit for the road.

Police and Department of Infrastructure vehicle examiners conduct these ’winter checks’ annually at various locations as part of their winter safety campaign.

They are warning motorists to make sure all cars are roadworthy ahead of the winter months.

Spot checks will be carried out over the next few weeks and any defective cars could lead to owners being prosecuted or fined.

A police spokesman: ’We will be out and about around the island with our partner agencies checking to see if vehicles (and drivers) are fit to be on the road.’

Drivers are urged to take a couple of minutes to check their vehicle over.

The checks will begin on Monday, November 8.

In terms of what to specifically check, police urge drivers to look at the condition of their tyres, ensure the vehicle’s windows are demisted, check their wiper blades are in good condition, make sure the battery is working, check lights and ensure the windscreen washer water is working before heading out, as well as remember to use fog lights when needed.

A police spokesperson said: ’As we are getting darker winter nights, we want to make sure all drivers can see and be seen and their vehicles are safe to use on the roads.’

In previous years, police have urged residents to follow its ’POWDER’ advice, which means to regularly check petrol (or diesel), oil, water, damage, electrics and rubber.

The police recommended if anyone was unsure of how to check their vehicle over then they should consider attending a weekly event hosted by Davanti Tyres where they teach people about car safety, such as how to change a spare wheel and what your warning lights mean.

Meanwhile, when police have noticed a number of vehicles that were being driven in conditions that required lights to be on without using them or they were but the lights were defective.

The police said: ’Lights don’t just help you to see, in conditions whereby visibility is poor, they assist in others seeing you.’