It is important to be a safe driver, especially in the winter season because we constantly face icy and snowy conditions. Drivers should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. Some very important tips include to avoid driving while you’re fatigued and getting the proper amount of rest before any trip. Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Never mix radial tires with other tire types. Make sure to keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up. If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather to avoid losing control of the automobile. It is very important to not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface. Always look and steer where you want to go. Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle. Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to move in a hurry, take your time to slow down for a stoplight. It is crucial to remember that it takes longer to slow down on icy roads. Drive slowly, everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly. The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you must stop. This may sound odd but it is also important to know your brakes. Every car is different and braking in every car isn’t necessarily the same. In certain vehicles breaking may take longer than the other, if you remember these important safety tips you’ll be fine, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. Don’t stop if you can avoid it. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible. Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road.
Another option is to just stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, even if you can drive well in the snow, try not to because not everyone else can drive in snowy conditions. Don’t tempt fate, if you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.