Winter weather condition is a harrowing and challenging task for even the experienced drivers. Especially in icy and snowy circumstances most of the awful and terrible accidents occur, hence, it is very important to drive cautiously no matter how skillful driver you are! Here are a few tips to ensure the safety of the driver and vehicle as well.
Get your car ready for winter
- Brakes play a vital role when driving on an icy or snowy path. Therefore, it is advised to get your brakes checked by a professional person. Make sure that there is no sign of brake fluid leakage. When driving on icy or snowy roads, salt, grime, and debris can build up underneath your vehicle, wearing off all the parts of the braking system. In case, brakes are left untreated, it can result in brake failures. Brakes have a considerable effect on the stopping distance of the vehicle. Get your brakes checked once in a while to avoid any kind of inconvenience.
- Coolant like antifreeze prevents from overheating of the car in summer and freezing in the winter season. Inspect the coolant level to ensure that there is the right amount of fluids in it. Change the antifreeze every two years to maintain the performance of your vehicle. Remember to mix water with antifreeze as antifreeze without water has a lower freezing point.
- With winters approaching you are required to change the tires according to the road conditions. For better grip on icy and snowy roads install winter tires with greater in-depth treads. Regularly examine the tire pressure and look out for any kind of wear and tear or puncture. Get your damaged tire changed, immediately.
Improve winter driving skills
It is advised to drive slowly and smartly in winters no matter how long does it take to reach your destination. Accelerate and decelerate as gently as possible. Maintain a safe stopping distance between your car and the car ahead of you. Avoid accelerating the car when going uphill as it may make it troublesome to handle the car, resulting in skidding or spinning. In a situation, where you need to make a turn, apply the brake and turn your steering wheel gradually. If you ever experience skidding, don't panic, just release the accelerator and steer slowly in the direction you want to go. Do not make use of cruise control in the winter season.Pay attention to the road condition
If the weather condition is harsh, avoid hitting the road unless it is an emergency. Look on maps to identify the traffic situation and choose the route accordingly. Avoid areas like bridges, overpasses as they are likely to freeze quickly and stays in that condition till last. Pay extra attention to the sound of the road as it helps you to identify whether you are driving on snowy or icy roads. Avoid the route where bad weather is anticipated. Lastly, drive slowly and cautiously as driving on snowy or icy roads is no joke.
Use driver assistance systems
- Automatic braking system
The automatic braking system increases the stopping distance on slippery, snowy, or icy roads. It prevents the driver from skidding and significantly assist the driver to stop and steer the vehicle safely and securely. However, the automatic braking system performance deteriorates on icy roads, as the tires can still lock up.
- Lane change assistance
In case the vehicle skid or starts to change lanes without the driver being aware, the lane change assistance alerts the driver by giving visual, audible, or vibrational warnings. If the driver does not respond to such warnings, the lane change assistance automatically takes actions, like steering automatically to make corrections, ensuring that the vehicle stays in a single lane. Hence, such a device prevents the car from skidding or getting out of control.
- Night vision system
The night vision system, like Lanmodo Vast Pro, helps substantially to perceive clear, 1080HD moving images even in snowy or rainy weather conditions. It assists the driver to view any pedestrian, cyclist, or any potential hazard up to 300m, giving you enough time to react accordingly. It offers the driver the full-color image in low light conditions.
