Winter Driving is Hazardous for your Insurance
Driving has always been a dangerous activity, think about it your sitting in a piece of metal on four rubber tires going over 60 mph on the highway? It’s really a marvel that we make it anywhere alive, most of the time. Now consider the additional hazard of driving in the winter time, when snow and ice and whatever else mother nature throws at us makes driving a bloodsport.
During winter time the risk increases ten-fold even to the most experienced driver. Even still if you stay conscious of road hazards and conditions you can make it through the winter driving season. The following tips will keep you accident free during the winter months and will hopefully keep your insurance costs from rising:
* Slow down. Because your vehicle’s traction is decreased and thereby your breaking power, your vehicle’s speed needs to be reduced in order to make up for this shortfall. If their are cars behind you that are honking because you are going slow, calmly switch lanes into the left lane and let them pass. Always start your drives a few minutes earlier to make up for the slower speeds, congestion and that fallen tree on the road way.
* Increase the distance between your car and the one in front of you. Under ideal conditions, you should have about a 3-second distance from you and the car in front. A general rule of thumb is to add an additional second for each hazard. For example, driving when their is snow on the road would mean you keep a 4-second distance between your car and the car in front of you. If you are driving at night and it’s snowing you would add 2 extra seconds to your following distance so would position your car 5 seconds away from the nearest vehicle. Remember a hazard is anything that takes away from your concentrating on driving and yes driving while talking on the cellphone is a hazard any may require a few more seconds!
* Gently break. Slamming on the brakes because you feel yourself sliding a little, will only send you sliding. If you do have anti-lock brakes remember pumping the break isn’t needed. Simply maintain pressure while braking and you will have improved stopping and steering control, even in icy conditions.
* Be cautious of black ice and other ice patches. Be aware when driving over areas that are prone to ice build up, such as bridges, intersections, and overpasses. If the turning sound of your tires on the pavement immediately stops, stop accelerating as you may be driving over black ice.
* When the road is snowy drive in the other tire tracks because their is more grip in the the already made tracks. When changing lanes be aware that the speed your going at in the tracks is not the speed you should be going at while changing lanes as snow and the turning of your wheel makes for a potential car accident. Slow down while changing lanes.
* Don’t drive. In severe weather, avoid driving at all costs.
* Four-wheel drive isn’t a license to drive as if it was normal conditions. Four wheel drive is mainly effective at slower speeds and loses traction the faster you go.
When Your Car Loses Control
If you’ve followed the above and still find your car sliding out of control, don’t panic and don’t over steer. The majority of drivers will slam on the brakes if they start skidding and then steer their vehicle too much. This only worsens the skid as hard braking moves weight to the front of the vehicle and takes weight off the back, increasing the severity of the skid.
When you feel your tires lose grip, get off the accelerator and the brakes your main focus should be on steering. By slowing moving your steering wheel in the direction that you want you can regain control of your vehicle. Think of it as driving a sled.
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