Winter conditions include snow, sleet, ice, and below-freezing temperatures, which can affect driving. Adequate planning, proper car maintenance, and common sense all contribute to a driver’s safety and efficiency when driving during winter. Below are some ideas to assist you and your vehicle survive the winter.

Make reasonable travel plans.

Whether you’re on a quick trip to the dentist or a two-hour drive, inclement weather can still cause accidents. Make reasonable travel plans before you get in your car. Give yourself more time to get where you’re going. Winter travel can be more time-consuming than other seasons, mainly if storms or slippery roads exist. Furthermore, being late could impair your judgment when driving during bad weather, which is already stressful.

Before starting your journey, keep an eye on the weather at your starting point and destination. If there’s a chance of extreme weather, such as an ice storm, hurricane, tornado, flood, hail, or other natural disaster, it may be too dangerous to drive.

Get your car ready.

Even minor flaws can significantly negatively impact safety during winter. Having a D Wells Auto service performed on your vehicle will guarantee that any problems are found and resolved. Alternatively, before any weather shift, check that your car’s lights, brakes, tires, windshield wipers, and battery are all in good working order. Additionally, inspect and replenish all of your vehicle’s fluids.

Find the appropriate tyres.

During winter, the minimum legal tire thread requirement is 3mm, nearly twice as high as the minimum need of 1.6mm during any other season. Thus, confirm that your tires are appropriate for driving in the winter, or consider getting some winter or all-season tires. They provide a better grip on slick surfaces because they don’t become hard in colder weather.

Drive with extra caution.

The two most common bad driving habits are driving too fast for the conditions and failing to keep in the proper lane or running off the road. Take extra care when driving in snowing or icy weather, as these actions become much riskier.

• Drive cautiously as it takes longer to accelerate, stop, and turn on snow-covered or ice roadways.
• Allow extra space between your car and the one in front of you so you have at least 10 seconds to stop completely.
• Avoid crossing bridges and roads that aren’t in direct sunshine as they are frequently icy while other places aren’t.
• Plan your route ahead of time and pay close attention to avoid making abrupt stops or direction changes that could result in spinouts or crashes with other vehicles on slick roads.

Ensure you pack the essentials.

Don’t rely just on the heater in your car to keep you warm, no matter how far you’re traveling. Put on appropriately warm clothing, bring a hot flask, and bring food. These essentials will come in handy in an emergency or heavy traffic.

The bottom line

Understanding a few fundamental techniques is essential for staying safe when driving in the winter. Establish a routine of checking the weather before leaving during the winter.