When driving in the winter, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Winter is a fun season that brings out the child in everyone. It can, however, cause some driving difficulties — but do not worry! You can learn to drive safely in cold weather if you follow the right instructions. Here are some precautions you may take to ensure a smooth and, most importantly, safe arrival at your destination.
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Prior to embarking on your journey-
• Use a road-tracking program like Google Maps or Waze to check the route and keep an eye on local weather reports to see if there are any potential delays. Stick to major roads, as state snow removal personnel may be preparing and clearing roadways before the snow begins to fall.
• Before leaving, clear snow and ice from the entire car, including the roof, mirrors, and windows.
• Fill the windshield wiper tank with concentrated washer fluid for cold temperatures to avoid the liquid freezing on the glass. These items should be properly identified as such. Cleaning and defrosting the interior of the windshield will also assist.
• Check your wiper blades to make sure they are clean and in good working order.
• When you are ready to drive, make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes with clean, dry soles to avoid slipping your feet on the pedals.
While traveling-
• When learning to drive in the winter, there is a golden guideline to observe. All of your car’s controls, including gear shifts, brakes, throttle, and steering, should be used gently and carefully.
• Keep a safe following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to give yourself ample time to stop and steer. When ascending hills, you should also allow adequate area in front of the automobile to maintain a consistent speed and avoid alternating gears or acceleration.
• Turn on your daytime running lights, especially if visibility is poor, so that other motorists can see you in the snow.
• When approaching a bend, begin to brake gradually before turning the steering wheel. If your car tyres start to lose traction, do not panic. Simply let go of the accelerator and make sure your wheels are pointing in the direction you wish to go.
• If you are driving behind other cars on an ungritted road, it is best to drive on fresh snow. Avoid driving on other vehicles’ wheel tracks, as the compacted snow will be icier than fresh snow.
You can not control other drivers no matter how cautious you drive, so keep vigilant and defensive!
Fishtailing is one of the most common winter driving issues.
When the back wheels of a vehicle lose traction and slide instead of grasping the road, this is known as fishtailing. If not handled appropriately, this can lead to oversteering and spinning out.
If you start fishingtailing, do the following steps to correct it:
Drive slowly into the direction of the skid, initiating the correction as soon as the skid begins to slide.
• To slow down, take your foot off the brake pedal.
Black Ice
A thin ice covering that glazes a surface is known as black ice. Although it is not literally black, it is slick and practically translucent, enabling roads’ black tops to peek through.
When driving on black ice, use these guidelines to stay safe:
• Drive slowly and shift into low gear as needed to acquire better control.
• Pass-through regions with increased traction. Snow-covered places, sandy areas, and textured ice are examples of such areas.
• Keep a safe gap between your vehicle and other oncoming traffic.
• If at all possible, avoid stopping by not pumping your brakes.
• Never use cruise control while driving in icy weather.
Following these winter driving tips will help you, your passengers, and other drivers stay safe. Even better, stay at home if the weather is poor and avoid driving in terrible weather.
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