subject: Have An Accident Free Winter On The Roads [print this page] Most of us would rather avoid driving during the winter months, but since thats not practical, lets consider some tried and true methods for ensuring a safe and accident free driving experience. It all begins with preparation. Prepare your survival kit, and start waking up a little earlier so that youll have that extra time in the morning to get your car ready. The last thing you want to do is to rush.
Winter survival kits should at least include blankets, an ice scraper, and a mobile phone with a spare battery. Other helpful items include a cigarette lighter, de-icer, a first-aid kit, jumper leads, a snow shovel, and warning triangles or cones. It also helps to have a spare winter coat and boots, and if youre already wearing boots, keep comfortable driving shoes in the car. Boots are prone to slipping on pedals.
When you depart, do so in second gear, and accelerate gradually. Remember that stopping distances can be more than ten times longer than usual so keep your distance accordingly. The key to driving on snow and ice is to make gentle and subtle movements, so drive only as fast as is comfortable for you to maintain those movements. Maintain steady speed as well as much as possible, and when you do need to accelerate or brake, do so gradually.
Some of the trickiest driving challenges occur when going up or downhill. Dont be afraid to wait for traffic to clear. Pull off to the side if you have to because its better to be late and safe. Once you start climbing a hill, avoid stopping. To descend, enter the descent at a slow speed and in a low gear, such as third. If you do begin to slide, release both the brake and clutch, and then navigate the car to a safe stopping point.
If the car becomes stuck, straighten the steering wheel as much as possible, and then clear the snow and ice from around the tires, but especially in front of them. It also helps to place something in front of the power wheels to help them gain traction. Its a good idea to keep a potato sack or a piece of old rug in your survival kit, but if desperate, you can try cardboard or a block of wood.
Finally, keep to the main roads, which will be cleared, gritted, and monitored by police. Drive only as fast as feels safe to you. Trust your instincts rather than focusing on what the drivers around you are doing. If you take your time and follow this advice, youre sure to have a safe and accident free winter.
