The AA has said that British motorists are not properly preparing for winter driving conditions.

The news comes from a new recent survey by AA/Populous, which suggests that 44% of drivers are doing absolutely nothing at all to prepare for extremely dangerous winter conditions. Those most likely to make preparations were aged 65 or older whilst the least likely to prepare were males between the ages of 25 and 35.

Edmund King, president of AA, said to Sky News that it was very concerning to see that motorists aren’t making ample preparations, especially since the prolonged winter conditions have worn emergency workers and highway authorities alarmingly thin.  He added that the lack of preparation also comes despite the fact that that most drivers are still sceptical about the preparedness of highway authorities.

Among other figures suggested by the survey, drivers in the hardest hit areas of the UK –primarily the region stretching Scotland to the north-east of England- had the greatest likelihood of saying they thought that the gritting would only worsen.

It was also found that only around 39% of motorists questioned said that they had equipped their car with a shovel and/or emergency blanket. 19% of respondents said they had purchased a good pair of winter boots.

The news follows weeks of unprecedented wintry conditions in the UK that have already left motorists stranded on a number of occasions. Forecasters have predicted such conditions to persist and have said the 2010/2011 season is on track to beat out the notorious winter of 1962/1963 for the coldest ever.