Worried about Driving in Adverse Weather? Remember These Helpful Tips

It doesn’t matter how much driving experience you have or how confident you think you are on the roads, when the cold, winter weather hits even the most skilled of drivers feel a sense of discomfort. The unpredictability of the roads, hidden black ice, the likelihood of skidding or getting stuck in a snowbank is enough to make most of us want to stay at home, but if you have no choice but to head out or the weather dramatically changes, then you’ll need to know what you’re doing.

Accidents caused by adverse weather conditions are extremely common and they usually happen because the driver doesn’t know how to handle their vehicle in such extreme situations – if you’ve been in a car accident and it could have been avoided then get more info from a car accident lawyer in Long Island, NY as soon as possible.

To help you feel better prepared for the cold, wintery season ahead let’s look at some helpful tips for driving in adverse weather.

Give yourself more time

Ok, so it normally only takes around forty minutes to get to work, but when there are snow, ice and slow-moving traffic you’d better give yourself more time to get there. Giving yourself more time to reach your destination means you’re less likely to become stressed behind the wheel and make a rash or dangerous decision.

You’ll also need more time to prepare your car for driving in bad weather and complete some basic checks. Such as de-icing your windows and windshield, demisting your car and even unfreezing the locks. This is time-consuming so take this into consideration before you leave.

Be prepared

It’s easy to see images of cars stranded on the highway for hours or overnight and think to yourself – oh that’ll never happen to me. But, you could be wrong! Driving in the snow means preparing for the worst so always take an emergency kit with you. Non-perishable foods, water, screenwash, jump leads, a small snow shovel, a blanket, phone charger and jump cables are sensible items to keep with you.

Basic snow driving techniques:

When you’re driving in the snow it’s important to move slowly and accelerate gently. When you’re at a safe speed try your best to maintain it, as this will reduce the likelihood of you skidding and losing control of your vehicle. If you do start to skid, turn gently into the movement and remain calm. Don’t try to brake or accelerate out of the skid. And if you’re approaching a corner brake gently before you move the steering wheel. Taking everything slowly and being cautious will hopefully prevent an accident.

Don’t forget your sunglasses

When the sun shines brightly onto the snow it can easily dazzle drivers. Keep a pair of sunglasses in your car so you can see clearly when you’re driving.

Finally, give plenty of room

You may be in a rush and frustrated at the speed of traffic, but also leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front. If someone loses control and hits the back of you, then at least you won’t hit the car in front!