8 Things Every Driver Should Know About Driving in Winter
So you’ve bought that new snow tyres, you laid down a fresh coat of wax on the car, and now you are ready for winter?
Kind of, you’re well on your way, but there are a few things you should be doing to keep yourself safe.
Preparing Your Car for Winter Weather Conditions
Being a driver in winter is a job that comes with responsibility. Not only does the winter weather present more challenges, but winter driving can also increase your risk of a car accident.
When preparing your car for the winter, there are a few things you need to do to ensure that it is ready to handle all types of winter roads and weather conditions.
Have a cell phone battery and charger as well as a small miscellaneous kit with things like bandages, hand warmers, and signal flares so they can be handy when needed.
2. Winterise Your Tyres
One of the most important things that you need to prepare when getting ready for the winter months is your tyres.
Make sure that you are using snow tyres during the winter months since they were specifically engineered for driving in these conditions.
3. Keep Important Numbers in Your Phone
You can guarantee the one time you will need help it will be in the winter! Get ahead of the game by writing down the contact numbers of every service you might need to get help from, like if you lose your keys; click here to find out more.
Think about your mechanic, a locksmith, a friend who can bring you petrol, everything you can think of!
4. Keep Extra Petrol in Your Tank
Keep your tank full! Running out of petrol in the middle of nowhere is not something you want to do.
It’s also a good idea to store as much petrol in your car as possible. Never let your car get under half a tank and keep that needle well above the red line.
Get that oil changed, do the brakes, and make sure all that other maintenance is done so you don’t have any nasty surprises when driving in winter weather.
6. Be Prepared to Stop
In winter, snow and ice can make your vehicle have a shorter stopping distance than it would on a normal road.
Make sure that you are always prepared to stop, in case anything unexpected happens.
7. Drive Carefully In Slick Conditions
In the winter months, the sun has a hard time shining through the clouds, so during certain parts of the day your visibility will be reduced.
Always be sure to slow down when you approach a turn or intersection, just in case there is someone at an angle that you don’t expect.
8. Be Aware of Roadway Conditions
In the winter months, there is a lot of salt used to reduce the amount of ice that forms on the roads. Always be aware of where the salt has been because it can damage your car.
If you do drive over some salt, stop as soon as possible and have it cleared from your vehicle before driving any further.
