subject: Safety Tips for Driving in Poor Conditions [print this page] Safety Tips for Driving in Poor Conditions
The recent snowfall and icy conditions have left some Irish roads extremely dangerous. Here are a few tips on how to drive in the snow and ice which should help keep your car insurance quote down.
Don't Drive Unless it's Absolutely Necessary.
This one is pretty simple. Unless your trip is extremely important consider walking or taking public transport.
Get an Ice Scraper. Use it.
If your journey is important and you decide to drive it is important you can see where you're going! Begin by scraping all the snow and ice off all of your windows. If there is still snow falling it will stick to any ice on your windows, obstructing your view.
Keep Your Speed Down.
Again, this seems obvious but may drivers will become over confident when driving in the snow, especially if they are in a 4x4. A rule of thumb would be travel at about half the speed limit keeping an extra large gap between you and the car in front of you.
Don't Slam On the Brakes.
To slow or stop a car when driving in the snow, tap the brakes or downshift. Keeping your foot on the brake pedal will increase your chances of losing control while driving in the snow. Sudden stops when driving in the snow also puts you at increased risk of being rear-ended by another driver who can't stop in time.
Don't Slam On the Accelerator.
In addition to avoiding sudden stops, avoid sudden starts when driving on snowy or icy roads. This may cause the wheels to spin since traction is poor during snowy weather. Spinning the tires also increases your chances of getting stuck, so apply slow, gradual pressure to the accelerator pedal when accelerating.
Follow these tips and driving in the current extreme weather conditions should be easier and safer. To make sure you are fully protected this winter make sure you have the best car insurance policy.
