With winter ending soon we may not have to worry about the icy weather much longer, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to let our guard down just yet. There are plenty of tips and tricks that can keep you safe when the weather gets harsh.
With winter ending soon we may not have to worry about the icy weather much longer, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to let our guard down just yet. The winter weather may not be harsh this year but it still poses a risk, especially to new drivers, and will continue to do so for a few months. Surprisingly enough though, many drivers don’t know the first thing about driving safely in the winter. There are plenty of tips and tricks that can keep you safe when the weather gets harsh.
It seems that the biggest mistake that novice drivers, and even some more experienced ones, tend to make is that they panic. Something goes wrong and instead of keeping a level head and calmly figuring out what to do they start to hit the brakes or slam the accelerator or otherwise overcorrect. It’s perfectly reasonable for that to be the first reaction though. Our instincts tell us to correct as soon as we see an error, even though that is probably not the best move. Here are some things that can keep us safe in slippery weather.
The first mistake that any winter driver can make is to drive too fast. It may seem silly, but driving too fast really can be a problem for people. Regardless of the posted speed limit, sometimes in wintry conditions it can be better to go under the speed limit. It may be annoying, but it’s not worth your life. Driving too fast is actually the most common cause of winter related accidents. Many people who drive too fast in winter cite an overconfidence in the conditions of the road. It can be difficult to tell when the roads are actually slippery and when they are not. A good rule of thumb here is, when in doubt drive carefully.
Another mistake that plenty of drivers make, winter weather or not, is to only be looking at the driving conditions directly in front of the vehicle. It is always important to look as far forward as you can while you are driving and be aware of the driving hazards that are visible in the distance. The reason this can be such a problem in winter weather is that fog and rain and other harsh winter conditions definitely weaken visibility when driving a vehicle. When driving in winter weather it can actually take four to ten times longer to bring the vehicle to a complete stop than it does on dry asphalt. Always scan the road ahead and keep an eye out for patches of ice, especially black ice.
A huge mistake that is more common in novice drivers is to slam on the brakes no matter what the conditions of the road are. Drivers who have never experienced driving over an icy patch will have difficulty understanding the mechanics of navigating over the ice. Experts agree that it is important not to slam on the brakes when you are in icy conditions even when something unexpected happens. What happens is that when you slam on the brakes you may lock up your tires. This will cause your tires to lose all grip, or traction, on the road and you will lose all control of the vehicle. The best thing to do is to slowly let on the brakes. If you need to stop suddenly then you should still try to ease into the brake as much as possible, steering out of the way of the obstacle if need be. The most important tip to remember here is not to panic or overcorrect.
Another big mistake some drivers can make is improper braking and acceleration during a turn. If you are suddenly aware that you are picking up too much speed in a turn then the first thing to do is to focus on where you want the vehicle to go. Looking at walls and other vehicles can cause you to crash into them. Because of the reduced traction from the harsh winter conditions, the vehicle may have difficulty performing two actions at one like braking and steering. The best way to avoid a collision in this situation is to only steer or brake at any given time and don’t try to do both at once. If you are braking then try to do so in a straight line. If you are turning then try letting the vehicle coast to where you need the vehicle to be.
As long as you keep safety in mind and know that the number one way you can prevent accidents is to not panic, then you can be fine in winter driving. Following these steps can keep you out of trouble as we round up the winter season!
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