Winter is coming. You should know that winter changes everything when it comes to driving, the weather gets worse which means more accidents, wet roads can be very dangerous especially if you are not used to them, and the night gets darker which makes it harder for you to see what is in front of you. If you find yourself in any one of these situations, then find out how to avoid them below.
Keep A Winter Car Kit In Your Trunk
In your winter car kit, including a shovel, jumper cables, ice scraper with brush and a blanket. If you live in a place where the weather is very cold, make sure you have a snow shovel to clear snow from your vehicle before driving away. Make sure that your battery does not die because if it does you need the jump cables to start your car or call for help by using your cellphone or another phone if the battery is too low to use a cell phone.
Also keep an ice scraper to sweep off all of the snow and ice on top of your car’s hood and windshields, especially after big storms when there’s lots of buildups. To keep the inside of your car warm, make sure to have a blanket in your trunk.
Prepare For The Worse
Winter is dangerous for drivers because of slick roads caused by ice or snow which makes it perilous to drive used cars. Ice may cause your vehicle to skid when traveling at high speed causing an accident. In the case of a car accident, your primary concern is your safety. However, after you find yourself safe, there are still procedures that need to be done. The first thing is to contact a lawyer. You can find out more on how to get compensation for damages incurred. You will also have to find any witnesses who can give testimony about how the incident occurred.
It would also help if they can provide their names and contact information so that they may be contacted later on with regards to inquiries from insurance companies involved in case of an accident. Once you found out everyone’s condition, check the area around the vehicle including the traffic signs and signals. If they are still working, find out if they were affected by the accident as well.
Know When To Find An Alternative Route
If you find yourself in a dangerous situation where roads are not meant for driving then find an alternative way home that leads you around ice or snow-filled streets. You find it hard to control your car if the tires are not gripping the ice so find an alternative route that gets you home safely. Consider waiting until the roads are clear of snow and ice before hitting the road again. If you find yourself stuck in heavy snow, find a place to pull over and wait for help. If you are on the highway, consider finding an alternate route as well.
Drive Slowly
If you find yourself on the road in winter, whether for personal or business reasons, it’s important that you drive carefully and avoid traffic collisions. For instance, if you’re driving through an area with heavy snowfall or raining ice, slow down considerably and leave plenty of space between your vehicle and others to account for sudden changes in weather conditions. If you’re unsure of what to do, stop at a gas station or other roadside location and ask for advice from an expert about how best to drive in the conditions.
For instance, many accidents occur during the first few hours after it starts raining because people typically accelerate without thinking about their speed. This is a good time to adjust your windshield wipers to make sure they clear all of the rain off your windshield. If you need to pull over or exit the highway, use caution as well as there’s usually less awareness among drivers as to where exits are located. Furthermore, if you must brake suddenly while driving on ice, remember that ABS cannot prevent collisions but instead prevents tires from locking up which may increase speed. Finally, try to keep the heater on in your car at a reasonable temperature to avoid fogging up the windows.
Don’t Drink And Drive
The first and most important thing you can do to help avoid a collision in winter is never to drink and drive. Alcohol slows your reaction time, reduces the distance needed for braking, causes poor handling, and decreases coordination. It also impairs your judgment of speed and distance so that you cannot accurately assess whether or not you have enough time to take an action safely.
In addition, fatigue from lack of sleep increases the effects of alcohol because you are already impaired when driving at night when it is harder to see obstacles ahead. Fatigue also puts you more at risk for a crash by making it more difficult for you to stay alert while driving. You need all your senses about you when driving in winter.
Winter can find you in some dangerous situations where it is too hard to control your car, find out what you can do in order to avoid these situations in winter. You find yourself sliding a lot when driving on ice so just take it easy and remember that the roads are meant for cars when it is safe to drive again. Make sure that you are properly dressed for the weather and find an alternative way home that is safe.
