Advice For Safer Winter Driving

Driving in winter conditions is dangerous

Driving in winter conditions is dangerous. Snow and ice on the roads make road surfaces slippery and visibility can be significantly reduced yet many people persist in driving at speeds that are inappropriate for winter weather conditions.

But there is a lot you can do to be prepared for treacherous winter driving conditions. During the autumn it's worthwhile having your car or truck serviced and inspected. If you're not mechanically inclined then take your vehicle to a garage and tell them you want it checked and prepared for the winter. They will then make certain your anti-freeze is topped up, your oil is checked and your lights are all working properly.

This is the time of year when you will want to prepare an emergency kit of useful items to be carried in your car. I recommend a good ice scraper, maybe some de-icer, a blanket, shovel, first aid kit and a flash light as an absolute minimum. You may also like to carry some road warning triangles (compulsory in Europe) and maybe a bag of sand, grit or kitty litter which can be useful to provide traction if you get stuck in snow or ice).

Your tires may need special attention. The ideal tires will depend on the prevailing conditions that you will be driving in. In countries like Sweden and Norway, where the winter snow compacts into an icy road surface, experienced drivers fit their cars with winter tires. These specialist tires contain a small amount of silicone which helps the tire to remain flexible, even at low temperatures. This helps to increase the tire surface area in contact with the road surface.

Winter tires used in Norway and Sweden tend to have a much deeper tread, which helps with traction. Also, the tread patterns feature lateral stripes which help to increase the grip on slippery road surfaces. Some experienced drivers like to install tires that are fitted with metal studs which help establish grip on compacted snow and ice.

Snow chains are not recommended for icy road surfaces as these are really only useful on snow. If the roads in your region are repeatedly covered with fresh snow then snow chains might be the answer. It must be remembered that you may need to change your wheels when fitting either winter tires or snow chains.

Preparing your car is only half the battle. It's equally important to prepare yourself. Although the interior of your car may be warm and comfortable when the heater is working what would if be like if you were caught in a snow drift, unable to run the engine? Always make certain you are wearing or carrying adequate warm weather clothing, especially footwear.

It's also worth reminding yourself that your normal driving style will need to change in poor winter weather conditions. Compressed snow and ice on the roads make it very difficult to stop so you need to be travelling much slower, leaving huge gaps between you and the vehicle in front. You wll need to depart earlier in order to allow extra time for your journey and you should avoid overtaking or making any sudden movements on uncertain road surfaces.

Hope fully these timely reminders will help a few people to avoid the problems that many experienced during last year's surprisingly prolonged and intense cold spell.

by: Rex Swain

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