The first snowfall, a drop in temperature, rapidly setting darkness – the beginning of winter is a period when driving becomes challenging for many of us. How to navigate safely by car in such conditions?
Have you ever experienced a skid? The feeling of losing control of the car on a slippery surface for the first time is not one of the most pleasant. At the same time, once we’ve gone through it, we are usually better prepared for the next time. Hence the growing popularity of driver training that includes recovering from a skid in controlled conditions.
We won’t take you to training, but we’ll share some tips that we hope will allow you to drive more safely during autumn-winter conditions.
GOOD PREPARATION OR… POSTPONING THE JOURNEY
We have written more detailed advice on preparing the car for winter on our blog before. Instead of repeating ourselves, we will be brief: when the temperature drops, and the first snow appears on the road, it’s worth having winter tires already installed. It may seem obvious, yet many people forget about it and end up in a ditch or collide with another car.
If winter surprises you unexpectedly, you need to answer one very important question: do I really need to drive today? In many cases, we can postpone or reschedule the journey until conditions improve. This applies not only to slippery surfaces but also to poor visibility caused by darkness or intense precipitation.
Among many drivers, the belief still persists that it is shameful to admit that we do not feel confident on the road in certain conditions. We perceive it as a sign of weakness or low skills, whereas it is rather a manifestation of responsibility and an understanding of our strengths and weaknesses.
WHEN WE START THE JOURNEY
We have winter tires, and we feel ready to start the journey? Ensure comfortable conditions. If necessary, clear the car of snow and frost. Cleaning the windows is not enough. Snow sliding off the car roof can deprive us (or other road users) of visibility at the least opportune moment.
Also, make sure not to get into the car with snow-covered shoes. It’s not just a matter of aesthetics. Melting snow and evaporating water can cause our shoes to slip off the brake pedal.
Once we start, it’s worth checking the grip and braking distance at a low speed and on a safe stretch of road. We then know what to expect and can more easily maintain the right focus and caution.
Caution is essential in winter conditions, both concerning pedestrians (whom we may not see more quickly in rapidly darkening conditions) and cars, from which it’s better to keep a greater distance than in the summer. On slippery surfaces, our braking distance may be longer, and the driver in front of us may react less predictably when their car begins to lose traction.
COMMON SENSE IS MOST IMPORTANT
Did we scare you a bit? That’s good because routine and bravado are our biggest enemies on the road. Winter on the road must be respected, but there’s no need to fear it either. After all, police statistics have been consistent for years – the most accidents happen on sunny summer days when driving conditions seem to be the best.
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