Thousands of people every year are being fatally injured or killed in car accidents that happen during winter driving, because in winter, we may encounter slippery road, snow falling and other bad weather conditions. If you really need to venture out in bad weather, here are some mistakes commonly committed when driving in winter that you should avoid, and also some practical safe driving tips.
#1. Not clearing the snow off the car
Driving without first clearing the snow off the car windshield is likely to cause you harm or injury. When you leave snow or ice uncleared and you drive, your field of vision is reduced; and you will have to navigate the snowy road through a small cleared spot, which is very dangerous.
Solution:
Make sure that your windshield and windows are clear of snow and ice before you drive to improve visibility and avoid crashes and collisions. In some states, it is against the law to drive with uncleared snow and you might get a ticket if you get caught.
#2. Not reducing your speed
When bad weather hits and you drive through a slippery road at a fast speed, your tires may easily lose their grip and affects your stopping, speeding up or turning and other aspects of your driving. This can result in an accident.
Solution:
So, slow down. You want to have enough time to react to a possible crash or slippage and should the situation go wrong, the damage will be less. It can be upsetting to go slowly, but this is a better and safer way to steer your vehicle. You can get home safely and not end up in a gutter or a hospital.
#3. Not upgrading your hardware
These are the tools, components and equipment that are in your car, that can cause accidents when they become old and start to malfunction. They need to be regularly upgraded or raised to a higher standard.
Solution:
A. Winter tires, for example are very important for your safety on the road during winter. This type of tires provides the necessary traction and ability to wick water towards the sides, so the tires can stay in contact with the road surface. They have smaller grooves that provide a smoother drive, by displacing slush and snow. Winter tires also have narrower width, compared to all-season tires. This narrow width allows the tires to slice through snow and prevent your car from sliding uncontrollably on the wet surface.
B. You should also have an emergency kit that contains the usual emergency stuff for traveling such as flashlight, ice scraper, gloves, food, tools for tire change, snow shovel for removing the snow stuck under the wheels; and some other essential things.
#4. Not taking advantage of safe driving gadget
Car night vision system (NVS) is an activated sensor that will enable you to see persons, things, automobiles and animals that cannot be visible with your car headlights. NVS offers various benefits to drivers, especially when road conditions make it not very easy to see, so why not taking advantage of it?
Solution:
When driving in heavy snow or rain, night vision system tells you how much stopping distance you have. It can also show you people and things in front of your car in a poorly lit road, so you become aware of the obstacles ahead of time, thus avoiding accidents.
Lanmodo Vast Pro Night Vision System is a new product that can be a good alternative to the built-in NVS in luxury cars. It offers 1080p high resolution, full color images and 45-wide angle vision. All these features contribute in providing you with a clear picture of what is ahead, so that you are able to react to them accordingly. Another distinctive feature of Lanmodo NVS is that it has an extended vision of 300m. While the built in NVS is made available only to fit in luxury cars, the Lanmodo night vision system can be suited in 99% of car models. And the good news doesn't stop there, because this night vision by Lanmodo can be easily installed by yourself, which means you do not need to take your car to a motor shop to have it installed.
#5. Panicking when car begins to skid
If your car skids, it may be because of driving too fast, when the condition of the road is wet and slippery.
