No one likes to drive in snow and ice, but sometimes it’s necessary in order to get from A to B. Thankfully, though, driving in these wintery conditions doesn’t always have to be dangerous. There are loads of great tips that can help you stay in control behind the wheel. Read on to find out which hacks and tips are the best ones for those days when the snowflakes start to fall!
Stay Calm
It’s very important that you don’t panic and stay as calm as possible. When we panic, we are much more likely to make rash decisions and forget everything we need to do to stay in control of the vehicle. Make sure that you take some very deep breaths and keep a level head. These relaxing methods can keep you calm and ensure that you have nerves of steel! When you need to change gears or use a pedal, don’t rush or do it in a jerky fashion as this could cause the car to skid and end up spinning.
Get A Suitable Car
There are some vehicles that just aren’t suitable for driving in wintery conditions at all. Most of the time, these are cars that don’t handle particularly well and have a poor fuel efficiency. Of course, the best cars you can drive in snow and ice are four-wheel drives and trucks. You can search the listings on this website if you are really interested in investing in a truck. This is often the best option for people who need to carry out deliveries for their business. If you aren’t entirely sure which cars and vehicles are best for wintery conditions, you should
Add Antifreeze
Before you leave home, it’s a good idea to check the levels of antifreeze in your car’s water system and top it up if needed. You don’t have to worry about this being an expensive addition, as you can now find bottles of antifreeze for reasonable prices in home stores and at garages. Paying this small cost is a lot better than your windscreen cracking because of all the ice on it! Ideally, you should make sure that you have a 50-50 mix of water and antifreeze in your car at all times in the middle of winter.
Add Important Items To Your Car
There are some necessary items that should be kept in your car at all times during the winter. For instance, a shovel allows you to dig your car out of excessive snowfall and spare clothes help you stay warm if you ever breakdown anywhere. It’s also a good idea to pack some non-perishable food and drink so that you don’t have to get too hungry or thirsty if you ever need to wait for breakdown services to come out to you. A torch and first-aid kit will also come in extremely handy if you break down.
Keep Your Vision Clear
If you are driving while it is snowing, you should try and keep your vision as clear as possible. Antifreeze in your water can help you with this, as it ensures that any snow and ice instantly melt when you spray your windscreen. Any snow that has accumulated on the roof should be cleaned off before you start driving. Otherwise, this could fall down onto your windows as you drive.
Make Sure Your Car Is Visible
As well as you being able to see, it’s crucial that other road users can clearly see your vehicle. So, before you leave, walk around your car to ensure that every light is working and is nice and bright. If there is a broken or faulty one, you should drive straight to your local mechanic so that he can fix it as it can be illegal to drive without some lights. You also need to make sure your number plate is visible so that you don’t get a fine.
Plan Ahead
Driving in snowy and icy conditions can be very stressful, so you don’t want to make this any more stressful by getting lost or needing to try to navigate as well. To cut down on all this potential stress, you should plan out your journey before you leave. That way, it is very clear in your head where you need to go and how long it should take. It might also be necessary to plan some alternative routes, just in case the conditions get very bad and you need to take a diversion.
Get Snow Tyres
Snow tyres are a great help to any driver in wintery conditions. They can help improve the vehicle’s grip on the road, so can greatly minimize any skidding and spinning. All you need to do to get them on your car is to go and see your local mechanic. He or she will be able to suggest the best type of snow tyre for your vehicle and will let you know when they can be fitted. If you do get them added to your car, it’s important that you remember to swap them back for your regular tyres at the end of winter, as driving them in non-snowy or icy conditions can wear them down.
Allow Extra Time
One thing to remember is that driving in inclement weather is really going to slow you down a lot. If you don’t give yourself enough time out on the roads, you will only end up rushing which can put you at a high risk of ending up in an accident. So, be sure to give yourself plenty of time for the journey. Ideally, if the snow and ice are particularly bad, you will need to drive quite a bit slower than usual, so take this into consideration when you are thinking how long to give yourself.
Driving in snow and ice can be extremely scary, especially if you haven’t driven in these inclement conditions before. Thankfully, though, if you follow all of the tips in this blog post, you will be able to do so without putting anyone in any danger!