Driving tips for winter safety

Driving tips for winter safety

Driving tips for winter safety

With weather conditions that are completely unseen throughout the rest of the year and far fewer hours of daylight to drive safely in, it's no wonder that winter is considered the most dangerous season for road users. Not only can drivers expect snow and ice to cover the roads at some point during winter, but there are often completely unexpected conditions, like snowstorms and extreme winds, which can catch inexperienced drivers by surprise. The safest piece of advice to any driver considering driving in winter is to simply not make the journey. However, that isn't practical for most people, so instead follow these basic safety tips.

First of all, make sure that your car is absolutely prepared for any journey and any winter conditions. Do this in advance too, as you never know when you might need to drive somewhere in an emergency. Once in your car and about to make a journey though, give your vehicle adequate time to sufficiently warm up. The cold weather will mean that your engine will take a lot longer to fully reach its best operating temperature and, as a result, will simply not run at its best until it is. By rushing this stage, you are taking your car onto the road when it is not fully prepared, so instead just take your time and let your engine warm up for a few minutes before driving anywhere.

This should go without saying, but make sure you are prepared for the worst. When winter approaches, throw a couple of blankets in your boot, along with some spare water and fuel, and always take hot drinks and a well-charged mobile phone with you on any long trips. This way, you will be prepared just in case you do have a breakdown or accident and can't get help in a hurry. Also, check your tires before you head out too. Adequate traction for snow covered roads requires about 6/32-inch tread left or, better still, fit winter tyres especially for the season.

When you're out on the road, do everything you can to maintain safety at all times. With the car heaters on, the windscreen will soon steam up and reduce visibility. To reduce this, try running the air-conditioning to counteract it. Many cars have a defrost' setting, so make the most of this. Likewise, make sure your headlights and taillights are fully operational, as the darker nights and potential snow fall means that there could be significantly reduced visibility and you want other road users to see your car at all times. Replace any worn windscreen wipers to avoid them scratching or otherwise damaging your screen and requiring some car windshield repair too.

Use your brakes wisely when driving on even mildly frost or icy road surfaces. Your speed should be naturally slower than normal, but always avoid hitting the brakes with any kind of force or speed; instead they should always be applied slowly but firmly to avoid skidding and maintain complete control. To help even further, stick on the local radio station and listen out for reports of black ice on any part of your journey. Black ice is an unseen stretch of ice which can catch an unaware driver off-guard completely and cause a serious accident.

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