Winter driving can be tough with low visibility on greasy roads. Moreover, harsh climatic conditions in the winter season can test your driving skills, even if you’re a seasoned driver. Furthermore, foggy days bring in poor visibility, and hence you need to be extra vigilant and cautious while driving under under challenging winter road conditions.
Inclement weather coupled with dangerous driving and flouting of traffic rules have added to the rising count of fatal road accidents in recent years. Here are the top tips that will help you stay safe on the road and avoid the possibility of any mishap while driving in snow and winter weather:
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Lane Driving is Safe Driving
It’s always dangerous when a driver suddenly switches lanes and that too on a greasy, snowy road can be even more menacing. So, make sure you stick to a single lane while driving in snow or winter road conditions with limited visibility to reach your destination safely.
A sudden change of lane can startle the other drivers, leaving very little reaction time and can easily lead to collisions, often fatal ones.
Avoid accelerating aggressively to overtake on slippery roads during the winters and when it is snowing so that nothing unexpected occurs abruptly.
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Blink Your Indicators
All those fancy lights on the exterior of your car are there for a reason and not only to jazz up your ride. When driving in winters, or snowy weather, make sure you always turn on the directional indicators before turning left or right.
While driving in snow or very low temperatures, it is extremely important to give indicators as it isn’t just about safety but also a roadside courtesy that you’d also like to be extended.
It is also advisable to let your indicators blink all the time when you are driving in these tough winter road conditions with low visibility. This will help the cars behind you gauge the appropriate distance to avoid collision on slippery winter roads with sharp turns.
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Keep Your Windows & Windshield Defrosted
Clean your windows and windshield inside and out at regular intervals to ensure that you have the best visibility while driving. One of the perils of winter driving is the fogging up of the windshield and windows from the outside. This severely limits visibility and can lead to accidents.
During the winter season, it is important to immediately get rid of the fogged-up windshields without ending up creating a mess of smudges. Go for fresh dry air intake by lowering down your windows for a while as the air in your car is already humid which further adds up to windshield fogging.
Hence, periodic cleaning is a must to maintain a decent vision of the road ahead and the traffic around you.
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Watch The Road
SIt gets difficult to control your car while driving in snow as it skids. So, enhance your winter driving tips to deal with the skids. Aim for where you want to go and not where your car wants to take you. This will help you keep your wheels pointed towards the path you want to take.
When driving in winter road conditions, make sure that you are aware of your surroundings and maintain an adequate distance between your car and the one in front of you. Vigilance is the key and following this tip will also give you enough time to react in case of an emergency and avoid traffic accidents
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Avoid Speedy Driving
Sure we all want to burn some rubber and feel the thrill of going over 100 km/h. But this stunt in winter driving is a strict NO! And also generally inadvisable... Winter is all about fog and low visibility on snowy or greasy roads and hence you should keep an eye on the speedometer.
Driving at low-speed allows you to have a better reaction and stop time.
There might be instances when you might think that there’s no vehicle ahead of you. However, take into account the low visibility and keep your speed in check to avoid any unfortunate surprises. Refrain from accelerating aggressively!
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Keep Headlights on Low-Beam
While winter driving, make sure your headlights are on low beam, even in the daytime. While it might seem like a good idea to use high beams, it does just the opposite. High beams tend to reflect the fog and further diminish your visibility.
Also, driving with high beams create a lot of discomfort for oncoming drivers and can prove extremely dangerous for them as they are nearly blinded by the high-intensity light. Driving in winter weather is not only about your personal safety but also the safety of fellow drivers.