Driving in winter can be severely dangerous. Therefore, when you take your vehicle out during winters, you must always consider if it is necessary to do so. The cars skid on ice very easily which leads to spinning and sliding and eventually causing unfortunate accidents. Hence, in order to avoid mishaps, drivers should have a practice on how they can drive carefully on ice if they need to.
Here, we have some tips for you to drive safe on ice and minimize the chances of casualties.
Winter Wheels
The driving wheels are very important for a vehicle to survive well on ice. A robust set of winter tires help your car to bear the weather conditions and help it to steer, brake and accelerate smoothly and safely on ice.
Slow Speed
A vehicle has the tendency of losing its grip on ice and that’s why speeding up is never a safe option. When your car comes upon an icy space, make sure you keep the steering wheel straight. In this manner, you keep control of traction and slow down the vehicle without steering.
On-Road Conditions
Regardless of the weather this should be everyone’s normal practice i.e. check the road and weather conditions. Weather can be very unpredictable at times, temperature drops, and rises fast. In such circumstances, one must always check the road condition before stepping outside the house. One should always have an idea of what to expect on the drive, and to do that, you can take a test drive on an empty road and get an update on current driving conditions.
Quick Turns
Avoid taking abrupt and sharp turns. When you are driving on ice, your steering should be under control and smooth. Quick turns and movements can increase the chances of skidding away from your car. Always be vigilant to detect oversteer and understeer and immediately take control over your car.
Keep Your Distance
It is safe to maintain a distance between your car and the vehicle ahead of you. At least, keep the distance of three car lengths between you and the next vehicle. It will allow you to have sufficient space to apply the early brake, when needed, and keep the car under control. In case of urgency, hitting the brakes over and over again gives a good chance for the car to skid on ice. Therefore, maintaining a safe distance with the vehicle ahead of you is imperative.
Tailpipe
The way you check your engine and fuel before you start your car, the same manner you have to check the tailpipe of your car. On snowy days, make sure the tailpipe is not clogged with ice debris. A clogged tailpipe causes the lethal carbon monoxide gas to gradually fill in the car’s cabin and suffocate in an enclosed area.
Emergency Kits
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
During bad weather, emergency kits should be part of every ride. Emergency kits include a list of things such as a shovel, work gloves, first aid kit, emergency lights, water, etc.
Driving during winters can be dangerous but if one takes safety measures and doesn’t rash drive, it can reduce risks.
