“Preparing To Drive In The Winter Part 2”

A week has passed and the temperatures have already decided to drop. The winter season is right on the horizon or in some parts of the country it has already come. In this second installment of this 2 part series, we will consider 7 tips on how a driver should prepare and drive in winter conditions. 

Tip #1: Plan ahead- Look at the forecast for the day and for days in the future. Plan your trips out. If you know a certain location normally takes you 15 minutes, plan on it taking a little longer. If you plan on it taking a little longer, you will be less likely to speed and do foolish things to make it on time. Also, prepare your vehicle with the information from the previous blog and other trusted sources. 

Tip #2:  Stay home- If the weather conditions are too bad, stay home. This is often hard for people to do, but sometimes the safest and best option is to stay home and give it some time. 

Tip #3: Drive slowly and smoothly- Be patient and take your time. Accelerate and brake smoothly to avoid slippage. Take turns slowly and with smooth steering.  Sudden or jerky motions cause the momentum of your car to shift drastically. This can cause your car to lose traction, and a skid can occur. 

Tip #4: Assess road conditions- Look at the road when you are driving. What does the snow look like? Is it crunchy or slushy snow? Does the road look like it could have ice on the road? Has the road been plowed and salted? Consider these things when you determine your speed and maneuverability. If you can not tell the road conditions, find a safe place to park, get out of the vehicle, and take a closer look.

Tip #5: Look ahead of you- This is good advice whenever you are driving, but especially in situations when stopping quickly could become a problem. Assess the road and cars ahead of you. Expect slower-moving vehicles and people braking earlier and longer before turns. Be prepared to make decisions sooner. 

Tip #6:  Skidding- Skidding is going to happen from time to time if you drive on enough wintery roads. In today's time, most cars have anti-lock brakes. This means if you slam on the brakes the car will provide the proper pumping measures to increase traction while you continue to hold down the peddle. It is important to keep steering, and looking where you want to go.  For a front-wheel skid, where the front tires lose grip, ease off the gas and in a beat or two the front tires should regain traction. 

For a rear-wheel skid, where the rear tires lose traction and you feel yourself beginning to spin out, turn the steering wheel in the same direction that the rear is sliding. If the rear is swinging to the left, turn the wheel to the left. Ease off the accelerator and stay off the brakes. As the rear wheels regain traction, steer back in the original direction.

Tip #7: Overconfidence- Do not be overconfident. Often, accidents happen because drivers overestimate their abilities or their car's abilities in winter weather. Drive within your limits. If other people are going faster, and you do not feel confident, stay at your pace. 

Driving in wintry conditions can seem daunting, but it is not too difficult. You can not control the weather, the road conditions, or other drivers, but you can control your preparedness and driving skills in the snow. It is encouraged by Drivers Edge that adults take their kids to open parking lots or safe areas where they can experience the effects of different weather conditions before they drive on the roadways.