Common Driving Problems in Winter. Tips to Be Safe on the Road
Driving in winter and icy conditions is a considerable challenge for both beginner and experienced drivers. The risk of losing control of the vehicle is very high, and a small mistake can be life-threatening because of poor visibility, freezing temperature, slippery roads, etc. To avoid car accidents, you need to take appropriate precautions for yourself and your vehicle. If you pay enough attention to the driving rules in winter, you will automatically avoid tough traffic situations.
Dangerous situations on the roads are not only for beginners. Even experienced drivers can find themselves in difficult traffic situations, especially in winter. Driving a vehicle in the winter season is risky, and we have brought some useful data and statistics to help you be aware of several important driving facts:
● About 20 percent of all vehicle accidents occur in snowy conditions.
● About 150.000 crashes take place annually because of icy pavements.
● About 2000 fatalities occur per year because of snow and ice.
Black ice
This is one of the most challenging winter driving problems. Black ice is extremely dangerous, particularly on elevated highways and overpasses. It is hardly noticed since it forms in very thin layers, and the difficulty of noticing it doubles at night. What can be your best bet? Yes! By reducing the speed, you can shun accidents and fatalities. Also, it is possible to find yourself slipping, and if so apply brake pressure and steer in the same direction the car is moving instead of panicking.
Whiteout
Sometimes the heavy snow blows horizontally around your car, and you are confused as it is very difficult to see the road. In such situations, a whiteout, another biggest hazards of driving, occurs. Meeting the whiteout conditions, slow down and keep the best possible distance between you and the vehicle that is in front of you. Use the latter as a point of reference. If nothing changes for the better, stop driving and wait until there is more visibility.
Snow squalls
Snow is frozen solid precipitation. Heavy squalls happen very unexpectedly, the same refers to downpours. This is more obvious if you drive your car in the mountains and hills, where not only elevation but also weather conditions constantly change. Watching or reading the weather forecast should be the first thing on your TO DO list before driving. Also, have something warm with you to sip and enjoy when the squalls are developing on the road and you should wait for it to finish.
Cold temperatures
Cold temperatures can cause damage to your car’s battery, especially if you have parked it for a day or two. Also, the battery can be a challenging issue because it is already in a weakened state. On cold winter mornings, when your one minute matters a lot, and you need to be on time, battery problems can spoil your day and be a real reason for stress. However, no panic is allowed, as there are chances and good news for you. If your battery is not compromised, it is still possible to start it back to life. All you need is to run it for 20-25 minutes before starting to drive so that the battery can recharge.
Now let’s learn how to drive in snow and on ice to be safer. It may not seem challenging at the first sight, but everything changes when you are behind the wheel, so you will benefit a lot by getting more tips on safe driving. Applying the following rules will minimize the chances of experiencing a car accident or a vehicle issue because of frosty weather.
● Defensive driving is another useful tip. By giving the extra distance between vehicles and allowing them to merge in front of you, you will stay away from distracted driving risks.
● Speed reduction is of great importance. According to FHWA, the driver should reduce the overall speed by 10-25 percent when moving on wet pavements and up to 30-40 percent when moving on snowy pavements.
● Use your phone only for emergencies. You never think it can be the reason for a disaster, but believe it or not, it increases the likelihood of a car accident. That said, don’t let yourself discuss serious things on the phone, and never text your friend behind the wheel.
● A full tank is always preferable. Instead of using your petrol to the end, consider the possibility of delays. Besides, in the case of a full tank, you will keep yourself and your family safe and warm while it is very cold outside.
● Install winter tires and enjoy the dedicated tread pattern for better traction on snow and icy roads. Winter tires use a unique rubber compound that is very flexible and stays so in wet and cold conditions.