Drive in snow can be dangerous and have high chances of an accident. In this weather skidding on the road is deadly, dangerous, and unavoidable. The best way to avoid such happening is to stay at home. But it is not a practical solution as multiple everyday activities should not and could not be avoided.
So here are some of the tips on how-to drive-in snow:
Drive Moderate
“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?”
– George Carlin
The fast drive reduces the control of the vehicle. So, drive moderately on the road when you see snow everywhere. This will lower traction on the road and keep you in command instead of the other way. The jerky movements can also be avoided which is another cause of slipping on the road.
Keep Safe Distance
As you might be driving fine, but what about the other person who is not driving well. It is a sane thing to keep a safe distance from other cars, so if they slip you do not have to bear the loss with them. The safe distance from other objects is necessary too. Keep a check on blind spots through sensors and cameras in the car. As put by an acclaimed website, be deliberate, gentle, and gradual. The acceleration and deceleration should also be like this as it takes time to slow down on an icy road.
Manage Brakes
With or without an anti-lock braking system, the managing brake will be the winner. Keep your ball of the foot on the brake while your heel of the foot in on the floor. This will help you in putting steady pressure on the brake that minimizes skidding on the road. Do you remember the law of inertia? That object in motion remains in motion for a certain time no matter how much external force you apply. So do not stop if you can avoid, instead keep rolling slowly. On the downhill drive, reduce your speed to naturally go down with gravity, as with additional pressure car disbalance easily.
The snow can be a test of how well you have maintained the car. Due to negligence, the rust in different parts make the drive unsafe and even prevents driving altogether. Check the exhaust pipe before you drive, as the snow, mud, and ice clog it. This can be deadly as carbon monoxide gas leaks into the passenger compartment while the engine is running.
Stay Warm and Visible
Insulate your body from cold and make sure that you have a visible presence at dark cold nights. The emergency kit of the car should also include heavy items of clothing and blanket. The floor mat, newspaper, and paper maps help you stay warm. Run engine and heater to remove the chill in a compartment that will not also be a life-saver but will also converse fuel.
While driving, bright color clothes and having high beam lights on dark lower-traffic nights might help. If you are driving in fog with more traffic keep your headlights at low beam.
Winter Drives Can Be Memories if Tamed Well
