WINTER Is HERE - Safety Driving Tips When The Chills Set In

by William Jones manager

Chilly weather can be both frightening and potentially perilous for drivers, especially the experienced ones. As per stats, bad weather, sloppy road conditions and winter storms have resulted in uncountable collisions and 2000 road deaths (give or take) in the last 5 years.

To prevent all these unfortunate incidents, drivers should be well aware of all safety rules when driving in winter road conditions. And with that, be vigilant and watch the road left-right-centre to avoid roadside catastrophes.

Just in case it has skipped your mind, here are some winter driving tips to brush up your mind when driving.

Let’s start 

• Make Sure To Drive Slowly:-

During winter, the roads can be slippery, wet and uncongenial to drive. So, it will be a smart thing to speed down (slightly) to account for the lower traction. 

• Accelerate And Decelerate Carefully:-

James Martin- who gives out driving lessons in Dandenong states clearly:-

“Never try to move in a hurry regardless of the cause as your safety is the most important thing. Be sure to apply the gas slowly to prevent skids and regain some traction. Also, be sure to stop at every stoplight and hit the brakes a bit earlier than usual as slowing down on a wet or icy road does take longer.”

• Ensure You Increase Your Trailing Distance:-

Mathew Maynard:- running a budgeted driving school suggests:- 

“When driving behind a vehicle during winter, be sure to increase your trailing distance by a few more seconds. The increased margin will give you enough time to adjust (and even stop) if the need arises.” 

• Be Well Aware Of The Brakes:- 

Regardless of whether you have anti-lock braking system (ABS) or normal braking set-up, keep the foot on the floor and apply steady pressure on the brake pedal. 

• Don’t Power Up When Moving Uphill Road:- 

Nathan Joyce:- a driving school instructor in Mount Waverley says:-

“When driving uphill (possibly on a snow-laced road), don’t apply power as could make those wheels spin out of control.  

Focus on getting a little inertia prior to going uphill. And once you do reach the crest, then lower down the speed more and allow the slope to take the car downhill.

Not only does doing this save gas, but ensures that you have control over your vehicle at all times.” 

Another Couple Of Tips To Remember:-

• Always Keep Those Windows Clean:-

As any quality driving instructor would suggest:- one should always keep their windows and windshield clean for improved visibility, cutting down the glares and lessening distractions.

So, use water (mixed with vinegar) or newspaper to wipe clean the windows and windshield vertically on the exterior and horizontally in the interior. Doing so will make it clear on which side the streaks exist. 

Also, remember to clean the viewing mirrors (side and the rear mirrors) to ensure you have a clear line of sight most of the time when driving in potentially dangerous terrains. 

• And Do Make It A Point To Check The Tires Before Driving Off:-

Before driving off to wherever you may so please, be sure to inspect the tire pressure. Check the tread depth or possible signs of wear-tear, substandard traction or for potential blow-outs.

The last thing you would want is to get stuck in the chilly weather with a busted tire.

Final Words:

To cruise comfortably and safety in the ‘season of chills’ all it takes is a little extra attention and falling back on all your basic driving lessons. So, use these tips whenever necessary to make the most of this wonderful time of the year.

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Created on Jun 4th 2019 05:54. Viewed 410 times.

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