Winter Driving Tips

For many people winter is an opportunity to visit the ski slopes or escape to places like Andorra, France or Switzerland. For anybody going on a winter holiday or vacation, perhaps a skiing trip and hiring a car during the winter months, the following are some useful winter driving tips prepared by Argus Car Hire:

BE PREPARED - GET YOUR VEHICLE WINTER-READY WITH A MAINTENANCE CHECK UP

Self Drive - On The Road Tips

Visibility
It’s critical for drivers to see and be seen in low light conditions, and when blowing snow and white-outs impair your visibility. Turn on your vehicle’s full lighting system in poor visibility. If you have a hire car or rental car always ensure the lights are working before you start your journey.

Spacing
It takes longer to stop on a slippery road. It’s important to leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead. A guide to safe spacing under normal driving conditions is the two-second rule. In winter, and especially during poor weather conditions, double the two-second rule.

Two second rule

  1. Pick a marker on the road ahead, such as a road sign or telephone pole.
  2. When the rear of the vehicle ahead passes the marker, count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two."
  3. When the front of your vehicle reaches the marker, stop counting. If you reach the marker before you count "one thousand and two," you are following too closely.


Braking Make sure you know how to use your braking system in all weather and road conditions. Consider taking an advanced driving course that teaches emergency driving skills.


Skidding
In a skid, it’s important to regain control of your vehicle, especially if it skids sideways. To do this, decelerate by taking your foot off the brake, step on the clutch or shift to neutral, then look where you want your vehicle to go and steer in that direction.


Snowy Roads
Snow on a road may be hard-packed and slippery as ice. It can also be rutted, and full of hard tracks and gullies. Or, it can be smooth and soft. Wet snow can make for slushy roads. Heavy slush can build up in the wheel wells of your vehicle, and can affect your ability to steer. Remember, look far ahead as you drive, so you can recognize hazards and other situations for which you will have plenty of time to respond. Adjust your driving to the road and weather conditions. Slow down and avoid sudden turns of the steering wheel, and sudden braking and accelerating that could cause a skid.


Ice
Be careful when approaching shaded areas, bridges and overpasses, as these sections of road freeze much sooner in cold weather and stay frozen long after the sun has risen. Watch out for black ice — areas of the road that appear black and shiny, and where your vehicle can lose traction suddenly. Slow down, keep your foot off the brake and be ready to shift to neutral or step on the clutch as your vehicle crosses these areas.


The Unexpected
If you get stuck or stranded, don’t panic. Stay with your vehicle for safety and warmth. Wait for help to arrive. If you are in an area with cell phone service and have a cell phone, call for help. Be careful if you have to get out of your vehicle when on the shoulder of a busy road. If possible, use the door away from traffic.

If you attempt to free your vehicle from the snow, be careful. Dress warmly, shovel slowly and do not overexert yourself. Do not attempt to shovel or push your vehicle if you have a medical condition. Body heat is retained when clothing is kept dry. Wet clothing, due to the weather or perspiration, can lead to a dangerous loss of body heat.

Draw attention to your vehicle. Use emergency flashers, flares or a Call Police sign. Run your motor sparingly. Be careful of exhaust fumes. For fresh air, slightly open a window away from the wind. You may have to exit your vehicle occasionally to make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of drifting snow before running the engine. You can call local emergency service and if you are in a hire car usually the car rental company will have provided you with an emergency telephone number.

More Safe winter driving tips when hiring a car

  • Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights – even the hood and roof – before driving.
  • Pay attention. Don’t try to out-drive the conditions. Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.
  • Leave plenty of room for stopping.
  • Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows – stay back at least 200 feet and don’t pass on the right.
  • Know the current road conditions.
  • Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Don’t stomp on the brakes. It takes more time to stop in adverse conditions.
  • Watch for slippery bridge decks, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridge decks will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.
  • Don’t use your cruise control in wintry conditions. Even roads that appear clear can have sudden slippery spots and the short touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control feature can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
  • Don’t get overconfident in your 4x4 vehicle. Remember that your four-wheel drive vehicle may help you get going quicker than other vehicles but it won’t help you stop any faster. Many 4x4 vehicles are heavier than passenger vehicles and actually may take longer to stop. Don’t get overconfident with your 4x4 vehicle’s traction. Your 4x4 can lose traction as quickly as a two-wheel drive vehicle.
  • Don’t pump anti-lock brakes. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, do not pump brakes in attempting to stop. The right way is to “stomp and steer".
  • Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and gives you that split-second extra time to safely react.
  • Remember that trucks are heavier than cars. Trucks take longer to safely respond and come to a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.
  • Go slow! Drive according to conditions.


Other useful tips:

  1. Lights : See and Be Seen - Keep your indicators and headlamps clean and working
  2. Wipers and Windscreen – keep a windshield scraper in your car for the removal of ice and snow. Wipers should be cleaned regularly and replaced every year.
  3. Tyres: Make sure your tyres have adequate tread and check for any damage or wear and tear .
  4. Electrics: Check your dashboard before and after starting the engine, listen for a weak battery and carry spare fuses.
  5. Water: Check the water reservoir is up to the maximum mark and correctly mixed with Anti-freeze – usually one third anti freeze and two thirds water. Check your car manual to be sure.
  6. Fuel: Try to maintain at least a half tank of fuel during the winter season, even a long traffic jam can be enough to drain an almost empty tank.
  7. Oil: Check the oil with the dipstick, topping up if necessary. Also look for signs of leakages on the ground underneath the car.
  8. Weather: Check weather conditions before starting your journey
  9. Travelling Abroad: Familiarise yourself with all the local driving conditions, check if your car needs any additional equipment to deal with local driving conditions e.g. snow chain, etc.
  10. Always Be Prepared and Plan:
    * Plan your journey in advance and carry a map
    * Never Drink and Drive
    * Never drive if you feel too tired
    * Remember that frequent Short stops are better than one lone one.
    * If travelling on a long journey – never drive for more than 3 hours without a break