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Article 5 Winter driving tips that will save your life

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Winter makes for extremely adverse driving conditions for all road users, no matter their level of experience.

Getting behind the wheel during a heavy storm or downpour is one of the most challenging encounters for drivers and is no doubt associated with high accident rates. In the months of June, July and August, it pays to be extra cautious of your driving style. It is highly recommended to avoid driving in these hectic conditions if you can.

If you have no choice, use the following 5 winter driving tips that will help you arrive safely at your destination:

  1. Ensure all of your vehicles controls are in working order before you leave the driveway.

This includes double checking your wipers, headlights and tail lights, your hazards, and windshield wipers are functioning. Making sure your tires are properly inflated is vital. It is also important to completely defrost your front and back windshields to ensure you can clearly see out of them. You can do this by pouring tap water onto them – not boiling water as this will cause the glass to crack!

  1. Keep Under the Speed Limit

Speeding is always a no-no and doing so in slippery conditions is just asking for trouble. So depending on the severity of the conditions, keep below the speed limit even if it’s not a busy road. Also, if you are driving on a non-busy freeway during heavy rain, avoid using cruise control as braking will be required to negotiate upcoming bends. Cruise control is for drivers who have one less thing to concentrate on in safe circumstances.

During substantial rain you should be 110 percent focused on all aspects of driving!

  1. Lighten Up

In heavy rain, it is imperative to drive with your headlights on, even during the day! Lights increase your visibility to other road users as well as allowing you to see them. Don’t be afraid to use your high beams, especially if it is dark and late in the night.

  1. Keep Your Distance

Retain a greater distance from your car to the one in front of you than you usually would in otherwise perfect conditions. You may be forced to brake heavily due to an upcoming road accident and keeping a more than safe distance will allow you to avoid a collision with the car ahead.

Braking is also made more difficult in the wet, which is another important reason for maintaining a safe distance from other traffic.

  1. Give It Time

Allow extra time to get to your destination. In other words, if you say you’ll be there in ten, you’ll realistically get there in 15-20 minutes as you are expected to slow down to a safe speed. You will be forced to drive slower due to a number of factors, including congested road conditions and potential crashes that may delay you from getting to your destination.

Unfortunately, even if you try your best to drive responsibly and defensively, accidents can still happen. After a car accident, there are important steps you should take to ensure your own safety, and the safety of others involved. For this reason, Aussie Driver has created a handy Car Crash Checklist, which is available now to download from our website HERE.

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Comments

  • always a good idea to have to have the headlights on – makes it so much easier to see others cars

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  • I’m always worried about the other drivers not slowing down

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  • Thanks for the article.Sometimes we just need a bit of a reminder to use our common sense which can fly out the window when you’re in a rush to get those kids to school in winter.

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  • That is not OCD that is what good drivers do! I just don’t get how some people think it’s ok to have coffee, smoke, put on makeup, fix their hair, finish getting dressed or whatever else they think of. Too bad it’s only texting and talking on mobile phones that are driving offences. How are all those other things any less distracting? Congratulations for getting in a car to drive and that’s all.

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  • Great article. I have actually been listening to the radio and they have also been talking about the dangers of going near water that looks even close to reaching the bottom of your car door. Your car can be swept away in minutes

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  • Never understand why people don’t use their lights when it’s raining during the day. Had many near misses because people in darker coloured cars just aren’t very visible. Thanks for the rest of the tips too.

    • Silver/dark gray cars are very hard to see on rainy or very cloudy days too. They blend in and can be as hard or harder to see than dark colours.
      Some red car(“fire engine red ones”) brakelights can also be hard to see if they are exactly the same colour as the paintwork.

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  • Good common sense rules I’m always a person that always is very cautious on the roads thanks for sharing.

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  • Good common sense ideas for keeping safe and alert on the roads. You can never pay too much attention to the traffic and conditions around you, as it could save your life. A moment’s inattention can be fatal, and you can never be too careful.

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  • Im very OCD about driving which I think comes from being in an accident when i was in my teens. I dont do anything else while im driving. I dont eat or drink and have never been on my phone and even many years ago when i used to smoke I would not smoke when I drove. I will happily have a conversation with someone in the car but I wont look at them…my eyes are on the road and I will sing along to the radio. Im not a tense and up tight driver but im focused on what im doing.

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  • im glad i don’t encounter this often

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  • Useful tips to keep one safe when driving

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  • I always go a bit slower to also allow for those who are still going a bit faster.

    • What sometimes annoys me is when you leave a slightly larger gap than required to do so and somebody passes you and squeezes in between you and the car that was in front of you, especially if they panic and slam the brakes on before you have a chance to adjust to the legal space between you again. I know somebody who rides a motorbike that it happened to. Instead od the girl staying in the lane she was in, she changed lanes and went in behind a truck, panicked and slammed her brakes on in front of a mtorbike before he was able to adjust to the legal distance behind her. She braked so hard that the tyre marks at the point of initial contact were under the car, not on the bumper bar. Result one dislocated shoulder resulting in major surgery.

    Reply

  • Good reminder. Will tell hubby about these winter driving tips.

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  • Timely advice, thanks for sharing

    Reply
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