How to get out of a snowdrift? It's worth starting with rocking. and also on a stable surface under the wheels.…
How to drive in winter? Practical advice
Winter is a very demanding time for drivers. Problems with visibility and maintaining traction are particularly noticeable on snowy days or in the evening hours. How to drive in winter? What can you do to make driving safer at this time of year?
- Driving in the winter is more difficult than in the warmer months. It's dark and slippery.
- How to drive in winter? Turn on all assistance systems and watch the road so you don't fall into the black ice trap.
- Fill up to avoid condensation and use your high beams.
- Find out more, read our article about car in winter!
- Driving in winter - driving safely on icy roads
- How to drive in winter on so-called black ice?
- Filling up in winter
- How to drive in winter after dark?
- Stay calm to get out of the snowdrift
- Take care of your windshield wipers
- The right tires for the winter season
In winter, road conditions change dynamically. Several dozen centimetres of snow can fall in just one night, and it won't disappear before morning. Some roads are also not salted or sanded, which poses a high risk of skidding. For this reason, it is very important to prepare for the winter season and be careful. How to drive safely in winter? We give you a hint!
Driving in winter - driving safely on icy roads
All right, how to drive a car in winter? During the winter months, adjusting your speed to the road conditions is particularly important. This is especially important on streets covered in ice or packed snow. When driving slower, the braking distance is shorter and the driver can react more quickly, for example, to a loss of traction of the wheels.
How to drive on icy roads? It is also worth keeping a larger distance from cars in front of you. On very slippery roads, especially with a slope, braking can be difficult even at low speed. This results in an increased risk of a collision.
In winter, you should also turn on the ABS ESP and ASR systems. Their task is to respond to the loss of traction of the wheels by applying the brakes or reducing engine power. They provide support for the driver - especially when they do not know how to pull the car out of a skid on their own.
How to drive in winter on so-called black ice?
Adequate winter driving technique is especially important on roads covered with so-called black ice. This is a very dangerous phenomenon, but unfortunately it is easy to underestimate. It takes the form of a thin layer of frozen water, which is almost invisible. It makes the street dark and very slippery at the same time.
How to drive safely on black ice in winter? As with roads covered in thick snow, it is best to reduce speed and increase the distance from other cars. At subzero temperatures, you should not automatically assume that the black asphalt is indeed free of ice.
Filling up in winter
Remember that safe driving in winter that's not all. The way you refuel your car is also important. During frosts, it is recommended to fill the entire tank - it is worth visiting a petrol station no later than when the fluid level drops to half. This is because water condenses from the air at low temperatures. If there is not enough petrol or diesel, it can flow into the injectors and damage the engine system.
How to drive in winter after dark?
In winter, the days are shorter, which means that people drive much more often after dark. In the dark, it is harder to see dangerous places on the road, such as black ice or frozen puddles. So it is worth being careful, especially on poorly lit streets. How to drive in winter? Use high beams where possible, but be careful not to blind other drivers.
Don't forget that on slippery ground the braking distance is longer. This can be very dangerous, especially when an animal or person runs out onto the street. It is better to reach your destination later, but not to develop a speed that will prevent you from stopping in front of the obstacle.
Stay calm to get out of the snowdrift
Getting stuck in a snowdrift can happen to even experienced drivers. It is not always enough to check the weather forecast to avoid them. What to do? The easiest way is to rock the car by gently pressing the gas and brake alternately, and put some sand, gravel or even a rubber car mat under the wheels. In the case of automatic cars - rocking will not be a good idea, and traction control will also be necessary. Want to know more? Read our a guide on how to get out of a snowdrift!
Take care of your windshield wipers
During the winter, windshield wipers operate in more difficult conditions, so their quality is crucial for your visibility and safety. It just so happens that driving in winter is associated with frequent use of the wipers. To avoid their rapid wear and to maintain their efficiency, regularly remove ice and snow from the wiper blades and do not switch them on when they are frozen. It is also important to use winter washer fluid and check the condition of the rubber, because even small cracks can cause smearing. Find out more about this, how to care for your wipers in winter!
The right tires for the winter season
Now that you know how to ride in winter, remember to use the right equipment. When thinking about driving a car in winter, it is also worth equipping the vehicle with appropriate tires. Tires should be changed in autumn, when the average daily temperature drops below 7°C. Driving on summer tires on icy roads is almost impossible. Their construction makes it much more difficult to maintain traction on the smooth surface of ice or packed snow.
Safe winter driving requires increased caution, as well as following a few rules. It is not worth overestimating your skills, even if you have many years of experience behind the wheel.
