6 Tips For Driving Your Car Safely in The Snow
In the winter period you are better prepared for a strong winter puncture. Snow fun is a great time for true winter fans. Yet for many motorists - driving the car in the snow - it is a true nightmare, usually resulting in a lot of traffic offenses. After all, it is not easy to drive in the snow. Make sure that you are very well prepared when you leave the job and adjust your driving style according to the possible slippery roads. After all, an accident happened very quickly and you can of course avoid it. We don't have to deal with snow that often in Belgium and the Netherlands. All the more reason to be attentive and vigilant on public roads. Some tips can ensure that you can defy the snow with your car as safely as possible.
Prepare yourself, and your car in the snow, as well as possible
Before you leave, it is very important to make your car free of snow and ice. This way you avoid surprises on the road and you have a perfect view of the track. Biodegradable products exist to spray your windows, causing your mirrors and windows to defrost and no longer freeze up as quickly. You can also put a piece of cardboard or a blanket in front of your front and rear windows so that they cannot freeze. Try to turn on the heating just before you leave and let the heating blow towards the windshield and rear window. The driver himself can also take some measures. Sunglasses can help you keep your vision in the best possible position when the sun is low. Also set your alarm clock a little earlier. This way you have some time in your schedule to handle unexpected things.
Start your car very slowly
Of course you also want to get to work or your destination very quickly in the event of snowfall. Still, it is good to leave very slowly if you drive your car in the snow. You do not give too much gas and you have to release the clutch very slowly. When you have left, you can adjust your driving speed to the condition of the road surface. You do best to start in second gear. In this way the wheels will not immediately turn quickly and therefore you cannot start slipping away.
Leave a sufficient distance between you and your vehicle in front
Nothing as annoying as a car that drives very close behind you in winter conditions. Because of the snowfall the sliding risk is very large, so that the distance to be able to brake safely is greater than with a dry road surface. It is therefore recommended to keep a greater distance with your vehicle in front to avoid accidents. A lot of car drivers get nervous when they have an "autobumperklever" behind them. In this way, these drivers are busy with the car behind them, and they lose all attention to the car before them. Of course with a collision in the back of the vehicle in front as a possible consequence. Sufficient distance between you and your vehicle in front is therefore more than recommended.
Drive as much as possible in the right-hand lane on motorways
The right-hand lane is the most suitable lane in snow. Of course, this lane is driven the least fast, but there is another advantage. After all, on this lane you can still move to the "bad luck lane" if you no longer see another way out due to slipping. If the spreading services have to finish, they will often keep the right lane and the middle lane free of snow. The left-hand lane will in many cases not be completely snow-free or ice-free.
Winter tires are a very good idea
Winter tires allow car drivers to drive more safely in traffic than with standard summer tires. After all, winter tires are equipped with a modified profile and a different rubber composition. They also provide a better grip on the road in winter conditions. The distance to brake will be considerably shortened, the turns will be much quicker and there is a reduced risk of aquaplaning. Of course you cannot prevent all calamities with winter tires. They can be a very good tool, but the car driver must still remain very alert in winter conditions. As soon as the average temperature drops below 7 ° C, you basically drive more safely with winter tires. Winter tires are recommended from October to the month of April.They have a slightly more expensive price than the summer tire, but are more than worth an investment (around EUR 100 per winter tire). You can reassemble them every year and this way you avoid the wear of your summer tires during the winter months.
What if you start to slip?
The biggest mistake car drivers make when they slip is to start braking abruptly. In any case, try to push your clutch in and keep steering in the direction that you intended to go out. Try to turn your gaze to where you might bump into, but keep looking at where you were going. If you have an ABS braking system , you can push the brake pedal fully. You will hear a throbbing sound but that is very normal. If you do not have an ABS system, it is advisable to start pumping brakes to regain full grip on the road.
