Winter is on the way… And that probably means snow and ice at some point in the next couple of months.
The most obvious danger when driving in winter conditions is the lack of grip between the tyres and the road surface, especially when there is snow – but even when there is no snow the roads can still get very slippery with cold rain and ice. You might feel snug and warm inside the car but outside, your tyres are battling for survival as then encounter icy puddles and slippery roads.
But it’s important to remember that most of the most important lessons you will ever learn in life come from mistakes – and learning lessons about driving is no different.
The grip of your tyres can be broken by any sudden movement; this is why winter driving requires extra careful use of the car’s steering, brakes, accelerator and clutch.
The best advice for all drivers in winter is ‘stay at home’! Especially in icy weather – ice, unlike snow, is not always easy to see.
The first sign of ice might be a lack of road noise from the tyres, sometimes the steering will feel very light. Allow plenty of time to stop (up to ten times your normal stopping distance) and never brake suddenly.
When you first drive in snow, find an empty car park, or similar location, and ‘play’ for a while by driving around slowly and carefully.
This will help to improve your control skills in a safe environment and give you a feel for your car’s ability to grip the road.
Moving off in snow and ice is best done using the highest gear possible – this will usually be second gear. If you get wheel-spin, ease off the gas, otherwise you will simply ‘polish’ the snow and ice, making it more slippery.
When the car is moving, keep your speed down. Gentle use of the controls is essential.
To reduce the risk of wheel-spin and skids, change up through the gears a little earlier than you normally would using the highest gear that it is practically possible – your car might grumble a bit but it will grip the road better.
Finally… Always leave lots (and lots!) of space between yourself and the vehicle in front, otherwise you could end up getting stuck behind less skilful drivers (literally stuck in the snow).
Learn all about winter driving here:
https://smartdriving.co.uk/Driving/DefensiveDriving/weather/winter_motoring/winter_motoring.html
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