Our Top Winter Driving Tips
Bad weather in winter can be extremely frightening to drive in, no matter how experienced you are. Winter driving conditions are some of the most dangerous for car accidents. There are thousands of deaths on the roads each year due to poor winter driving.
It’s never too late to prep your car for the snow, ice and winter driving. Plus, we’ve got a few great winter driving tips to make your winter drives smooth and easy. We will cover everything you need to keep you safe while driving this winter.
● Take it Slow and Easy
● Check Your Lights
● Get Winter Tires and Chains
● Get Frame-less Windshield Wipers
● Don’t Panic
Winter Driving Tip 1: Take It Slow and Easy
Remember, everything takes longer in the snow. After all, you can’t exactly slam on your brakes without unwanted skidding and sliding in the snow. Therefore, take it slow and you won’t need to worry about braking as often. Instead, you’ll want to slowly ease into your stops when you see snow on the ground.
The same deal goes for accelerating as well. Slowly ease into the gas pedal. This way, you’ll maintain full control over your car when driving on any slippery terrain.
Winter Driving Tip 2: Check Your Lights
Lights are critical when it comes to driving in the snow and ensuring winter driving safety. For starters, snow clouds usually cover a bulk of the sun’s natural light so it is much darker when driving in winter, even during the day. Good headlights will ensure your car remains fully visible to other drivers and you are more likely to see any animals that may be on the road, like deer.
Winter Driving Tip 3: Get Winter Tires and Chains
If you plan to drive in the snow, you’ll need as much traction as possible. Potentially the most important winter driving safety tip is to invest in good winter tires and chains. Winter tires are the perfect start to gaining that extra grip you need when driving in winter. According to Studies from the Quebec government, snow tires reduce your needed braking distance by 25%.
If that’s not enough, the study also found that winter tires reduce collisions by 38% when compared to standard tires. In other words, winter tires make for some ultra-safe winter driving. Same concept goes with chains as well. They’ll help your tires maintain extra traction when driving in the snow—even for tires that aren’t intended to drive on slippery terrains.
If you are looking for replacement auto parts like lights, tires, chains or windshield wipers to keep you safe when winter driving, try our Auto Parts Search Tool today.
Winter Driving Tip 4: Get Frame-less Windshield Wipers
Believe it or not, getting the right windshield wipers makes all the difference in the winter. And sure, you’re metal-framed wipers get the job done. But they also have a habit of skipping and streaking water across you’re windshield when they get cold. And in worst-case-scenarios, they can even break.
Frame-less windshield wipers naturally curve to your windshield. This means they don’t use hinges that freeze and break in the cold, even in the worst winter driving conditions your windshield will be spotless. So, in the long term, frame-less windshield wipers are your safest bet for the winter months.
Winter Driving Tip 5: Don’t Panic
Panicking always makes everything worse. And when driving on the snow, that statement couldn’t be truer. Even when driving slower than normal, your car will slide at some point.
One of the most crucial winter driving tips we can offer is; when this happens, DON’T slam on your brakes. Doing so only results in you spinning out—and in turn, other cars spinning out trying to avoid you. It’s not a pretty situation.
If you are new to winter driving conditions, you need to learn to instead, stay calm. You’ll want to turn into the slide. Specifically, turn your wheel into the direction where the back of your vehicle is sliding.
But, moderation is key—don’t panic and jerk your wheel in any given direction. Otherwise, it’s just as bad as slamming on your brakes. However, if you ease into the turn, your car will correct without the use of brakes. And then you’ll safely get where you need to go.