subject: Protecting Your Car In Winter [print this page] Winter driving is dangerous; factWinter driving is dangerous; fact. Not only is visibility dramatically reduced, driving conditions are much harder. During winter its important to ensure you do regular maintenance checks on your car to ensure that its safe to drive. Before you leave the house, check the local weather reports; if they suggest to not make a long trip, ask yourself if the journey youre about to make is really necessary? If no, stay at home and dont risk injuring yourself. If you absolutely must go, try to find an alternative method of transport; trains are much safer than cars during snowy winter weather.
If driving in bad weather, ensure you have regular stops; stay hydrated and get a good sleep the night before to avoid falling asleep whilst driving. It goes without saying that driving under the influence of alcohol is not just dangerous for you; it poses harmful risks to other road users too.
When you wake up on a frosty morning, the last thing you feel like doing is getting out of bed and driving to work. If your car is frozen, its a good idea to use de-icer on the windows and locks. Dont set off until the windscreen and other windows are completely clear and mist and ice free. In bad weather, our stopping distance is increased; if you cant see very well on top of that, youre more likely to cause an accident. It may take you longer to get to your destination but at least youll arrive safely.
Driving in snow can cause a whole host of problems to even the most experienced driver; remember to decrease your speed and to not press too hard on the brake; if you suddenly break, youre likely to skid. Drive in lower gears, at a slower pace to ensure safe driving through snowy conditions. If you drive a smaller car, its likely to have front wheel drive; this type of car is much easier to drive in bad weather conditions such as snow, because it has a better grip and is less likely to skid.
You may wish to invest in some snow chains for your tyres during the winter months; specially designed to grip harder onto the road, theyre perfect for driving in snowy conditions. With snow chains on your tyres, youre much less likely to skid as they have a much better grip than normal tyres.
Protect your car this winter and youll be protecting yourself at the same time. Remember that safety must come first.
