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6 Tips for Safe Winter Driving
By: Steven Schwartzapfel
Driving in snowy and icy conditions can be very challenging. The key to safe driving in these conditions is to DRIVE SLOW. Follow these winter safety driving tips to arrive at your destination safely:
Safe Winter Driving Tip # 1
Reduce your speed: In slippery conditions, tires lose their grip more easily, affecting braking, turning, and accelerating. Keeping the speeds down will give you more time to react to slipping and sliding.
Safe Winter Driving Tip # 2
Allow longer braking distances: Plan on starting your braking sooner than you normally would in dry conditions to give yourself extra time to stop to avoid a collision.
Safe Winter Driving Tip # 3Tackle a skid the smart way: If your car skids, don't panic and don't slam on the brakes. Instead, steer your car in the direction you want to go. This procedure is known as “steering into the skid,” and will bring the back end of the vehicle in line with the front.
Safe Winter Driving Tip # 4
Give space:
The normal driving distance between your car and the car in front of you is usually 3 - 4 seconds on dry surfaces, but should be increased to 8 - 10 seconds when driving on slippery and wet surfaces.
Safe Winter Driving Tip # 5Know Your Brakes:
It is important to apply firm and continuous pressure if you have anti-lock brakes. If you do not have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the brakes. Avoid slamming on the brakes because this will further upset the vehicle’s balance, making it harder to regain control.
Safe Winter Driving Tip # 6
Don't let 4 wheel or all-wheel drive give you a false sense of security: 4 wheel drive and all-wheel drive systems only provide extra traction when accelerating. They provide no advantage when braking.
If the weather is really bad outside, stay home. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.
If the weather is really bad outside, stay home. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.
