Tips For Driving In Snow And Ice Conditions
Driving in bad weather conditions is very dangerous. During winter, most roads are covered in snow and ice (packed snow, black ice, etc.) Snow-covered roads lead to slippery surfaces, which makes winter driving quite delicate.
In winter conditions, your vehicle’s tires are prone to lose traction very quickly, even when you use winter tires, and it can become difficult to stop quickly, make turns, or change speed. How can you ensure safe driving when you have to head out in snowy conditions?
To ensure safe winter driving, you must take note of five categories of winter driving tips. They include; maintenance, traffic, and emergency tips. These categories will be discussed more explicitly below.
Winter Driving Facts
Did you know:
40% of weather-related vehicle crashes are recorded in wintry conditions (snow, ice, or sleet).
More than 1,300 people die as a result of icy conditions in the winter months.
Approximately 120,000 sustain injuries in crashes on snowy or icy roads every year.
Over 70% of US roads are located in areas covered in more than five inches of snow each year, and 70% of the population lives in this region.
Michigan has the most hazardous winter driving conditions in the US, with an average of 55 driving deaths recorded every winter.
Tips for Driving In Winter Weather
Driving in snow can be scary, especially if your vehicle skids unexpectedly. To avoid and/or handle all the drama and scary situations that you’re likely to experience when driving in snow, we have curated the important tips below to help.
Maintenance Tips
Maintenance tips refer to the necessary preparatory steps you should take to ensure that your vehicle is in good condition to travel in the snow.
You’re expected to check the electrical system, brakes and brake pedal, ignition, lights, exhaust system, heating or cooling system, windshield wipers, and the vehicle’s tires. Ensure that all these are in good condition before setting out.
h3(#brakes-ignition-and-lights.). Brakes, Ignition, and Lights.
Check the brakes to ensure equal braking, the ignition to replace any damaged wires, and repair any cracks in the distributor cap. Also, check all lights for proper functioning. Proper lighting is necessary, especially during blowing snow where visibility is greatly reduced.
Tires
Selecting the right tires is one of the most important things you must put in place to help you maintain traction on a slippery surface. Winter tires are advisable and more advantageous than regular tires. They have deeper tread, which improves traction and prevents snow build-up. Take note of:
The type, size, speed rating, and load index of the four snow tires of your vehicle. Using the same features for all four tires helps with control and stability.
All-season tires can only be used as an option in very few cases because although it is built to handle different road conditions, it compromises some abilities that snow tires have. Most people advise that all-season radial tires should be used only in areas with light snowfall.
Ensure that your tires are properly inflated, and check your vehicle owner’s manual to ascertain that tire pressure is at recommended levels for freezing temperatures. Tire pressure reduces by about 1 psi each time the temperature drops by 5°C (9°F).
Tires have tread depth indicators inside the grooves. The tread depth shows how much traction the tires can give. The minimum tread depth for any road condition is 2/32 inches. When the tread is close to 2/32 inches or the same level as the wear indicator, replace it with a spare tire for adequate traction.
Do not forget to also check balance and wheel alignment and correct them if necessary.
Exhaust System
Clean the exhaust pipe to remove the build-up of snow and other dirt. Also, make sure that there are no leaks in the exhaust system. Leaks increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Windshield Wipers
Your windshield wipers must be functioning properly too. Replace them if they’re worn out and top up the antifreeze fluid. Winter storms drain windshield wiper fluid quickly, so make sure you keep extra in your vehicle and top up from time to time.
Heating/Cooling System
The radiator and hoses should also be in good condition. There should be no leaks. There should also be enough antifreeze to regulate the engine even in the coldest weather.
Fuel
Fill up the gas tank bearing in mind that your trip could take longer than expected, and the car engine would need more fuel to run if you get stuck.
Personal Tips
Choose warm clothing when setting out to help you stay warm in cold weather. It is also important to pack cold weather gear to prepare for emergencies.
You might end up spending more time than you expect outside. Your gear should contain blankets, extra jackets, snowshoes, flashlights, warm/hot food and drinks, hats, gloves, hand and foot warmers, etc.
Traffic Tips
Traffic tips encompass the necessary information and driving tips you need to ensure traffic safety. Obey all traffic rules and ensure that you pay attention to traffic light changes.
Buckle up before you begin your trip and keep your seat belt buckled throughout the journey. Losing control while driving in snow is easy, so you must ensure you’re driving at a reduced speed. This is also important to help you detect black ice early enough and safely navigate a route ahead.
Black ice is a glaze or sheet of ice that forms on asphalt roads. Black ice is usually transparent. Take note; dry pavement will look white in winter, so if it’s shiny, take caution. It just might be black ice playing tricks on you.
Cruise control is an automated system that controls the speed of a motor vehicle to maintain a steady speed. Cruise control is designed to be used on a flat roadway where there are no frequent stops. Winter driving always requires you to be in control, so avoid taking unnecessary risks.
Keep your hands on the steering wheel and even when you have anti-lock brakes installed, keep the ball of your foot on the brakes to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal when need be. Low beam headlights are brighter than daytime running lights, work better for blowing storms, and also activate tail lights which make your vehicle more visible.
Increase your following distance with the vehicle ahead of you. Stopping distance on icy roads is twice that on a dry road. Stay in the right-hand lane except when changing lanes. Navigate the steering wheel with sharp, smooth, and precise movements, accelerate and decelerate slowly, and avoid changing lanes too quickly to avoid skidding.
When trying to climb up a snow-covered hill, do not apply extra gas to prevent your wheels from spinning. Apply gas slowly to get some inertia to help you climb up the hill safely. At the top of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly to prevent your vehicle from running off.
Emergency Tips
Emergency tips are essential tips that will help you navigate through winter road emergencies.
Your emergency kit should contain properly fitting tire chains, a bag of sand or salt (or kitty litter), tow rope, traction mats, snow shovel, snow brush, ice scraper, booster cables, warning devices and help signs, extra windshield wiper fluid, first aid kit, road maps, etc.
One of the most terrifying situations is when tires lose grip in a skid which could be a front wheel skid (plowing) or a rear wheel skid (fishtailing). Antilock brakes will improve your chances of recovering from a skid unscathed.
If you get stuck in the snow, keep the car windows slightly open when you’re stuck in the snow to defrost and run the engine and heater to keep warm.
If you start to experience severe weather conditions while driving, pull up and wait for the weather to get better before you proceed with your journey.
How Slow Should You Drive In Snow?
If you have to drive in snow and ice, reduce your speed by half. If you usually drive 60 miles per hour on a highway, reduce your speed to 30 miles per hour.
What Driving Mode Is Best For Snow?
All-wheel drive is the best mode of driving in snow.
What Cold Weather Driving Tips Are Helpful If My Car Skids?
Here are a few final tips to help keep you safe if you find yourself skidding:
Stay calm. Although it could be difficult to stay calm and composed in such a terrifying situation, keeping a cool head will do you good and help you react to dangerous situations.
Remove your foot from the gas pedal to stop the wheel from spinning. Put your foot on the brake instead and hit in a slow pumping motion with the ball of your foot.
Vehicles with anti-lock brakes will detect the situation and start to adjust automatically by gradually turning the wheels as you apply the brakes.
Turn the steering control away from the direction of the skid. If your car skids to the right, steer to the left and vice versa. Do NOT steer the wheels in the same direction as the skid.
