Driving in the winter isn’t the same as driving in the summer, and that important point is one that all drivers need to know. Whether you love winter or you can’t wait to see the back of it, if you have to during the colder season, then it’s wise to look into what you need to know and, of course, how to improve your driving this winter. Once you can do that, you’ll soon find that you’re more confident, safer, and happier behind the wheel, so read on to find out more about the kinds of things you can do to improve your driving as the temperatures drop.
Prepare Your Vehicle
As much as you’re the one in control of your vehicle, and you’re the one who needs to know more about how to drive safely during the winter, if your car isn’t working in the right way, you might come up against problems you can’t handle, and that would lead you into a situation that would need a car accident lawyer to help you out of.
Before hitting the winter roads, it’s vital that you make sure your vehicle is completely ready to be driven at this time of year. That means checking the brakes, tires, lights, windshield wipers and making sure that all the fluids your vehicle needs are topped up. When all of these things are checked, and you’re sure your car can handle icy or wet roads and low visibility, then you’re good to go.
Slow Down
It’s so easy to get used to driving at a certain speed during the warmer summer months, especially on roads that don’t see a lot of traffic, but you might need to change your habits at different times of the year.
Of course, legally, you need to stick to the speed limit no matter what, and although that’s simple enough to do in the summer, it’s not always the best option in the winter. In fact, reaching the speed limit could be extremely dangerous, and it’s often best to drive slower than you normally would, and that’s more true than ever if there’s rain, snow, or ice on the roads. You’ll need to have complete control of your vehicle at all times, and if that means slowing down, then that’s the right thing to do.
Brake And Accelerate Smoothly
When you’re driving, the way you brake and accelerate can have a big impact – positive or negative – on the way you drive and how safe you are on the roads. If you brake and accelerate suddenly, for example, you can quickly lose control on slippery surfaces, and that’s clearly dangerous.
The best way to drive in winter is to apply the brakes and accelerator pedal as gently as possible and try to do it in a smooth action. When you do it like this, you’ll be less likely to skid, but if you do skid, you need to stay calm and steer in the direction you want to go, and you should get straight again.
