10 steps to the queen of the steering wheel Safety first - this is the motto that Kajetan Kajetanowicz took...
Safe winter driving from the perspective of a Rally Champion
Safety - a motto that is constantly valid regardless of the season or place: whether it is a rally or civilian road traffic. Particularly important when the most difficult period for drivers is approaching - winter. Weather conditions are changing: the days are short, darkness falls quickly, negative temperatures accompany us every day, snow lies on the roads and sidewalks. All this reduces the comfort of driving on the roads. How to drive safely in winter?
Rules always apply
To ensure full comfort and safety of driving for yourself and your passengers, you should always remember the basic rules that will guarantee this. The essence of properly preparing your car for winter is, first of all, clean windows ensuring good visibility and properly adjusted rear-view and side mirrors.
No serious driver sets off on a winter journey without making sure that his vehicle is fully operational and fully prepared for such a journey. Regardless of whether it is a longer or shorter journey, every driver must be sure that it will be safe for themselves, passengers and bystanders. Of course, we cannot forget to ensure that everyone in the vehicle wears seat belts correctly. Ignoring this carries the risk of losing your life and that of your passengers.
Apart from checking your mirrors, cleaning the windows and fastening your seat belts, there are other, equally important things that you should take care of before traveling. They equally contribute to maintaining safety on winter days and evenings.
The lights
Taking care of the proper setting of headlights is one of the most important activities for drivers, regardless of the season. Good visibility is guaranteed not only by properly functioning wipers, but above all by external lights. They are one of the guarantors that ensure our safety while traveling on the roads. Especially in winter, it is important to check the condition of all lights - set them correctly, check the bulbs and ensure that the headlight housings are clean. Of course, let's not forget about the visibility of children returning from school - a reflective element placed in a visible place can save lives.
When preparing lighting for use in winter, it is necessary to thoroughly inspect it. As already mentioned, it is very important to inspect the front and rear lamps, replace the bulbs if necessary and buy spare ones. Housings must be intact, uncracked and clean. Any noticed imperfections (either casing or glass) should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Low winter temperatures can bring many more unpleasant surprises. Water accumulates in the cracks and, when it freezes, it may even cause the plastic casing or glass to burst. It is best to commission such an inspection to a qualified mechanic who, while checking the technical condition of all lamps, will also perform the final adjustment of the headlamps.
Wiper blades and washer fluid
Changing the windshield washer fluid to a winter one and replacing the wiper blades with fresh ones are activities that should be performed in the winter. It is worth checking the washer nozzles immediately and using a needle to set them so that they distribute the liquid to the center of the windshield. When the days get shorter and the sun sets sooner, a clean and clear window definitely increases our chances of safely reaching our destination. Importantly, it also improves driving comfort and pleasure. Efficient installation of windshield washers and, if the car has one, installation of headlight washers is extremely important for driving safety. However, so many drivers forget about this.
In winter, windshield washers must be fully operational. Remember to use only winter windshield washer fluid , even when outside temperatures are above freezing. Winter is characterized by sudden temperature changes that quickly drop below freezing. Driving with summer windshield washer fluid can result in system, reservoir, and pump failure.
Similarly with wiper blades. These hardened rubbers make the rubber hard in winter and therefore do not clean the windows completely. This translates into difficult visibility, increases fatigue and carries the risk of unexpected events on the road.
The condition of the brake fluid and coolant may also require checking.
Safe distance
In winter the surface becomes very slippery. Be especially careful and adjust your speed and keep a safe distance between cars. First of all, we need to adapt it to the road conditions. It will be different in sunny weather on dry asphalt and different on slippery surfaces. In the case of sunny days, it is a distance corresponding to at least 3 seconds of driving at a given speed to the next car, and on rainy days it is at least twice as long.
Before anyone sets out for a winter ride, they need to be aware of a few important things. Even a fully functional car driven by an inexperienced driver may pose a similar threat to other road users as an older and slightly worn-out vehicle driven by a professional. Driving technique and skills largely determine how confident a driver feels on the road. Despite this, it is always better to show less trust in your vehicle and keep a greater distance.
Temperature
The days are getting colder. We start to heat the car, and it is humid outside and the air is cool. There's a big temperature difference starting to occur. Therefore, we should ensure the appropriate temperature inside the car to prevent the windows from fogging. The temperature inside the car should be around 18 degrees. To achieve this, it is worth always having working air conditioning, which should be used to defrost the windows and then maintain the proper temperature inside the vehicle. Too high can cause drowsiness and, in the worst case, fall asleep and cause tragedy.
Change the rugs
A key element of winter car maintenance is replacing fabric floor mats with rubber ones with grooves that prevent water from seeping onto the carpet. If this happens, moisture will begin to form on the windows. To at least reduce fogging, it's worth thoroughly cleaning the inside of the floor mats and having the upholstery professionally cleaned, along with ozonating the interior. Also, try using the air conditioning regularly, which will demist the windows and maintain the efficiency of the entire system. If you don't have an air conditioning system, simply apply an anti-fogging agent , switch from fabric floor mats to rubber, and dry them frequently. Rubber floor mats have another advantage – they are watertight. Snow water that would get into the wiring, which often runs under the floor mats, would disrupt its operation. Furthermore, wet floor mats are neither aesthetically pleasing nor hygienic.
Tires swap
It's high time to change to winter tires. Tires are the only part of the car that is in direct contact with the road. Winter tires have a different rubber compound than summer tires. Their flexibility at low temperatures is much greater than in summer tires, which allows for better grip on the road.
It is also worth being aware of the condition of your tires. If a driver does not purchase new winter tires and uses last year's or older tires, he or she should take a good look at them before putting them on the wheels. Tires retain their functional properties only for a certain period of time and only when stored in appropriate conditions. It should be emphasized that tires are fully operational only for a few seasons (unless they wear out earlier).
Winter tires work in extreme conditions. They must resist very low temperatures, snow and road salt, which slowly destroy them. In addition, rubber itself slowly degrades over time. If tires are stored in appropriate conditions, this process is much slower. It's worse when we keep tires in random places and do not pay attention to their proper storage. Such a tire ages faster and tends to abrade and crack.
Well-selected tires guarantee our safety. Don't wait until the last minute to do this and don't be surprised by winter! Your life is at stake.
Ready for a winter ride?
By following the tips and knowledge contained in this article, every winter trip will certainly be safer. Not only the safety of the driver and his passengers is so important, but also of all other road users. What else is worth having on hand during winter travels?
A lot can happen in winter. Therefore, it is worth carrying the following accessories with you:
- working spare tire, pump and wheel wrench,
- a set of warning triangles, basic tools and a working fire extinguisher,
- first aid kit in case of road injuries and similar accidents,
- phone, road map and satellite navigation.
All these things are better to have with you and not use, than to need them in an emergency and not have them. There is an old and wise proverb about this, and practice shows that it is better to take it seriously. Similar adventures can take place even in situations when the car is fully functional (of course it should always be like this!) and everything during the trip is perfect.
If you have already followed all the tips, all that remains is to wish all readers a safe journey!
