Driving in winter weather carries a great responsibility for every driver.
During winter, we can experience all sorts of different and sometimes dangerous weather patterns such as high winds, heavy rain, sleet, snow, and icy road conditions.
Something else to consider is that it’s darker earlier and people who experience even minor night blindness could have some additional difficulty trying to navigate the roads.
Listed below are a range of suggestions that will help you prepare for wintry conditions and bring you piece of mind knowing you’ve taken precaution and care. Remember: your success in life is the result of thoughtful preparation.
Prepare Your Car
First of all, you will need winter tires if you live in an area that sees snow throughout the year. Winter tires usually have a snowflake on them and will make your car handle better when accelerating and breaking, which is especially important when driving on ice.
You may also consider fitting heated windshield wiper blades to melt snow and ice, or simply purchase de-icer and a scraper if you want to stick to more traditional methods.
It’s also a wise idea to visit a mechanic if harsh weather is forecast. They will conduct a thorough safety inspection to ensure everything is in working condition. The last thing you want is to get involved in an accident and find out you were at fault because your car was in poor shape.
Gather up Personal Items
Prepare for the worst and hope for the best, right? Some items you may want to keep with you in your car include: a blanket, warm socks, a flashlight, bottled water, and a small shovel.
Create your own emergency kit just in case you get caught up in traffic or stuck in the middle of nowhere. Trust me, it might be highly beneficial someday!
Tips for Driving in Winter
Any driver knows that driving in the snow is a completely different, and sometimes anxious experience. Here are six pointers:
1, Make sure your petrol tank is always at least half-full to keep it from freezing and to save you in case traffic is slow.
2, Don’t rush. Go at your own speed and don’t let drivers behind you pressure you into speeding up.
3. Don’t try to power through hills in the snow as you’ll just end up spinning your wheels.
4. Maintain a good distance between the car in front of you.
5. Try not to jerk the steering wheel.
6. Avoid slamming on your breaks.
A Course in Winter Driving
If you’re still unsure and nervous about winter driving, then you can always take an intensive driving course when the weather is bad.
This has multiple benefits whether you are new to driving, haven’t driven in a while and are out of practice, or if you have never had to drive before in winter conditions.
This course is extremely practical because the driver is trained with a professional instructor next to them, giving them tips and better preparing them. If you’re already on the roads, then you can use it as a reminder to go over things you may have forgotten whilst also calming your winter worries.
If you’ve been planning on learning how to drive for a while but were putting it off until the summer when the conditions were more appealing, book yourself an intensive course and get it done within a week.
If you master the art of driving in the winter, then every other season will feel like a breeze. Your instructor will be next to you the entire time for guidance; so if you have any concerns, you only have to ask them.
So, instead of acting like the snow, wind and ice isn’t going to arrive – start making your preparations now. Start by getting your car inspected and then gear it out with all the essentials.
Look into a crash course (no matter your experience) and have some basic driving tips in mind. You’ll be much worse off if you get caught in your car off-guard with no safety measures in place. Driving in winter is a lot easier when you’re ready for anything!
This blog is courtesy of Momentum Driving School, which specializes in teaching people of all ages how to drive.
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