Winter transforms landscapes into a beautiful wonderland, but it also creates dangerous driving conditions. From slippery, almost invincible ice to heavy snowfall, every road trip will test your winter driving skills.
To keep yourself and your passengers safe, you need to be prepared for whatever you may encounter. Follow these steps to ensure you can handle whatever the season throws at you with confidence.
Step 1: Perform preventive vehicle maintenance
Just as you wouldn’t run a marathon without the right shoes, you shouldn’t enter the riding season without a properly prepared vehicle. Make sure your vehicle is ready for harsh winter conditions with these preventive maintenance tips.
Maximize your visibility
The colder months can reduce visibility, from snow accumulating on the windshield to heavy snowfall causing visibility to be close to zero. The days are also shorter and the nights longer, which means more driving in the dark or in low light. Here are some ways to maximize your visibility:
- Make sure your headlights, taillights and brake lights are clean and functional.
- Check whether your high beams can do this illuminates up to 350 feet from the road ahead, and your low beam lights can be on at least 60 meters away.
- Install new wiper blades and fill the reservoir with winter-grade windshield washer fluid that will not freeze.
- Remove snow or ice from the entire vehicle to prevent it from blowing off your car and blinding drivers behind you.
Test your battery and electrical system
Your car’s battery works via a chemical reaction, and cold temperatures can dramatically slow down this reaction. This means that significantly less power is available when your engine needs it most.
Have your battery professionally tested to check its health and ability to hold a charge. Take longer trips every week (at least 30 minutes) to fully charge it. Also turn off your headlights, heater and radio before starting your car to reduce the initial strain on the battery.
Check your tires for good grip
Do not leave home until you have checked the following:
- Profile depth: If you see Lincoln’s entire head after inserting a penny upside down into a tread groove, your tires are too worn for safe winter driving and you need new ones with a deeper tread.
- Tire pressure: Tire pressure drops in the cold and under-inflated tires have poor traction. Make sure your tires meet the recommended PSI found on the sticker inside the driver’s door.
- Tire suitability: Consider replacing your all-season tires with winter tires, which have a tread pattern that provides better grip on snowy and icy roads, reducing the risk of skidding.
Inspect your brakes for efficient control
Effective braking is critical on icy roads where traction is minimal, so make sure it’s in good condition all winter long. Keep brake fluid levels within the recommended range and perform routine checks. Test your brakes in your neighborhood before hitting the highway or taking a long drive. Look for warning signs, such as scraping or screeching noises when brakinga “soft” or “mushy” brake pedal and inconsistent brake pad wear.
Step 2: Prioritize your own well-being and focus
Drowsiness is a factor 21% of all motor vehicle fatalities accidents and 13% of traffic accidents that resulted in people being hospitalized. The risk is greater in winter, when shorter days can disrupt sleep patterns and increase driving fatigue. Stop in a safe place to rest as soon as you notice the warning signs – heavy eyelids, frequent yawning, difficulty focusing or drifting out of your lane.
Program your GPS and put your phone on silent before driving. Constantly scan the road for black ice and signs of other cars ahead, such as brake lights and exhaust fumes.
Step 3: Master winter driving skills
All around 24% of weather-related accidents happen on icy, snowy and muddy sidewalks, resulting in more than 1,300 deaths and 116,800 injuries. By 2023 alone, it’s estimated 320 fatal accidents and 22,290 Injuries have occurred under these circumstances. Avoid being part of these statistics by changing your riding technique for the season.
- Drive slowly and carefully.
- Increase your following distance from three to four seconds to eight to ten seconds.
- Depress the accelerator pedal gently to avoid sudden acceleration and wheel spin.
- Brake long before you have to stop.
- Watch and steer where you want to go.
- Take slower turns with smooth, deliberate hand movements.
- Don’t let high visibility be created a false sense of security and keep driving slowly.
Step 4: Pack an emergency “Go-Bag.”
Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle well stocked with the following essentials to get out of unexpected situations and stay warm while waiting for help if needed:
- Sturdy ice scraper and snow brush
- Shovel to dig out of a snowbank
- Sand or cat litter for instant traction under rotating wheels
- Jumper cables
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- Road flares or reflective triangles
- Warm blankets, extra hats, gloves and socks
- Power bank
- Energy-rich, non-perishable snacks
- Bottled water
Drive safely and confidently this winter
A well-prepared car, a focused driver, conscious driving techniques and well-stocked emergency kits – these are the essentials for safe driving in winter. They can ensure the safety not only of everyone in your car, but also of those you meet along the way.
Author biography
Oscar Collins is editor-in-chief of Modded, where he writes about health and fitness. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for regular updates on his work, and subscribe to Modded Minute for more!
