subject: How To Drive In The Snow Safely [print this page] There are some cars that just aren't built for driving in the snow.
For example, walk into Porsche dealers today and unless you're looking at the Cayenne, almost any model you choose will find it difficult to cope in the snow.
However, the truth is that there are only a small number of cars that don't perform well in the snowy conditions and for the most part, it's the driver who is at fault, as they aren't taking into consideration the conditions, continuing driving normally as they would if it was a hot summer day.
Driving in the snow does require for a change of your driving habits, but arguably not as much or to the extent that you might think and the following steps explain how you can drive safely in the snow this winter.
1. Start off by checking your tyres, both the tread and pressure. Your tyres should be correctly inflated per your manufacturer's guidelines and your tyres should have at least 3mm of tread on them.
Yes, the legal minimum amount of tyre tread is 1.6mm, but in treacherous conditions, it's strongly recommended that you have as much as possible.
2. Next, you need to top up your engines fluids, adding winter additives to the windscreen washing fluid and the radiator, to ensure that you can see clearly at all times and that the car doesn't succumb to the cold weather.
3. You then need to give your car a wash, or at least a quick clean, especially around the windows and mirrors to ensure that you visibility which is just as good as if you were driving in a clean car in summer.
4. When you set off, don't rev the car too much. If the tyres are spinning and you aren't moving, try starting in second or even third gear if you can, revving the engine slowly and finding the biting point of the clutch smoothly.
5. Once driving, the most important thing you can keep in mind that you need to be staying several car lengths away from the vehicle in front at all times, as braking distances can be up to ten times greater in the snow and ice than normal.
You might think that the roads are clear as all the snow is on the side of the road, but black ice a large issue and being too close to the vehicle in front means that if you hit a patch of ice, it's almost guaranteed that you're going to drive into the back of the vehicle in front.
6. One of the easiest ways to remember how you should be driving in snowy conditions is to think back to when you took your test.
Slow on the accelerator, easy on the brakes, look along the road to see if you can slow down without using the brake and take corners slowly but surely - it's all information that you already know from when you were first learning to drive and all you have to do is call on that knowledge to ensure that you're time driving in the snow is as trouble free as possible.
