Because of icy roads, decreased visibility, and weather that are unpredictable, winter driving may prove difficult and sometimes hazardous. But with the correct information and planning, you might improve your winter driving abilities and make your trip less hazardous and more fun. We’ll look at eight suggestions in this article to make your winter road trip better.
These pointers can assist you in navigating the winter season with assurance and comfort, whether you are an experienced driver or a novice to driving on snowy roads. For the best traction as well as security on icy and snowy routes throughout the colder months, it is essential to make investments in winter tyres.
1. Skip It
Simply stay at home if you’ve studied the forecast and understand there will be snow or ice. Perhaps your place of employment recognizes how much more vital your physical and mental well-being are than showing up to work one day a year. Naturally, show courtesy whenever speaking with your employer, but if you think the road circumstances are too hazardous to drive, don’t.
2. Get Your Vehicle Ready
Make sure your car is ready for wintertime before it gets there. Examine the state of your tyres, & think about upgrading to winter tyres for improved traction on ice and snowy areas. Check the functionality of your brakes, batteries, wipers & lights. Maintain a minimum of half of a tank of gas in the vehicle to avoid the fuel line from freezing, as well as keep a winter emergency kit on you that includes tools like a shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables, flashlights, & blankets.
3. Allow Yourself More Time
It’s a major issue. Everybody is in a constant rush to go somewhere, as evidenced by how they pass each other on the highways, blow their horns if someone waits at a stop sign for a longer time, etc. BUT operating an automobile is like operating a 4,000 kg chunk of metal at speeds greater than those at which a person is capable naturally.
It may prove fatal to combine this speed and weight with hazardous driving circumstances. Give yourself an additional 10 to 20 minutes to reach your destination while preventing taking needless risks.
4. Increase The Distance You Follow
Although this ought to be done ALL YEAR ROUND, winter weather can be unexpected, necessitating even greater vigilance. You ought to have 6–10 seconds or 4-6 car lengths between you and the vehicle you are following. According to a general guideline, you should give the automobile in front of you one car length for every 10 miles per hour you are moving.
The rationale for this is so that you are given enough time to respond and change your pace or direction if the individual in front of you needs to suddenly halt or slow down. The most crucial thing is that you practise safe driving and keep yourself & your car safe, even if it means arriving at your destination a few moments later than usual.
5. Driving Slowly While Accelerating
Your tyres have a difficult time gaining traction on the road in slick weather. Driving slowly and paying attention to any changes in direction OR speed will significantly improve the way you drive. This advice is valid for icy roads, rain, snow, and loose sand and gravel. Less tyre traction on roadways results from these circumstances. It is preferable to overcompensate than undercompensate when attempting to go forward from a halt, turn, or speed in slippery circumstances.
Slowing down would not only help your car operate correctly in those circumstances, but it will also give you the extra time you may require to pull over or make a turn to avoid a hazard if you notice the road is slick or that your car isn’t reacting as it typically should be given the state of the road.
6. Slowly Decrease the Speed
Check that you don’t lock the brakes if you begin to slide while trying to slow down. Your car will have more traction on the road if you pump the brakes or alternate between doing so and coasting. Locking the brakes will only end up resulting in an uncontrolled slide of the vehicle. Your car is going to have the traction it needs to stop if you occasionally use the brakes while using the spinning tyres to grab the pavement.
7. Utilise Your Gut
The greatest approach to staying safe in risky roadways is to fully avoid them, as indicated in rule #1. However, this may not always be a viable choice. When driving, do not push yourself if you feel in jeopardy or have to avoid something. Keep an eye out and trust your instincts. It’s more than your life on the line when you’re driving. Every driver has to drive safely.Â
8. Pay Attention to Black Ice
Black ice is one of the winter’s most dangerous hazards. It may be challenging to see black ice, which is clear ice which accumulates on road surfaces. It frequently manifests as a glossy, dark patch that forms on overpasses, bridges, & shaded locations. Be cautious and slow down when you enter these locations.
Avoid making sharp turns or rapid stops since they may lead your car to lose traction. Keep your cool, move slowly in the direction you would like to go and refrain from making sudden moves if you come over black ice.
Final Words
You may dramatically enhance your winter driving expertise by heeding the following eight tips. Try to get your car ready, slow down, practise smooth manoeuvres, comprehend your ABS, be aware of black ice, improve visibility, remain up-to-date and keep a cool, collected head. By keeping these pointers in mind, you’ll be more prepared to travel in winter conditions securely and comfortably.