Driving in Winter – How To Stay Safe On The Roads During Winter
Winter has arrived, and staying safe in these harsh winter temperatures has never been more important. Slippery roads, freezing temperatures, and low light levels are just a few of the factors that contribute to dangerous driving conditions. Many people make the mistake of underestimating the dangers, which proves to be a costly mistake. While you cannot control the weather, you can take several precautions to ensure your safety while driving in the winter.
Here are some precautions you should take during the winter to ensure a safe drive.
Get Your Car Winter Ready
Cars perform differently in the winter than they do in the summer. When you take your car out for a drive in the winter, even minor issues can be magnified and cause serious safety issues. As a result, prepping your car ahead of time will reduce potential risks and keep you safe.
Here are the two most important things you should do to get your car ready for winter.
1. Check The Tyres
In the United Kingdom, the legal minimum tyre thread depth for vehicles is 1.6mm. However, you should keep a close eye out for when the tyre reaches 3mm depth. This means that your vehicle has reached the minimum tyre thread depth, if it goes lower, you may encounter some serious problems that could endanger you. As a result, it is recommended that you replace them before they reach 2mm in depth, especially as autumn and winter approaches.
2. Check Anti-Freeze Levels
In a car, antifreeze serves several purposes. It keeps your brakes in good working order and aids in de-icing when necessary. Antifreeze safeguards your engine against severe damage caused by frozen or cracked engines. So go ahead and buy a ready-made antifreeze mix or make your own after reading the manufacturer’s instructions. This will save you money in the long run and may even save your life.
Take These Precautionary Measures Before You Go Out
Make it a rule in your life that no matter how much you want to, you should never just jump in your car and drive away in the winter. You can do it at any other time of year, but winter diving is much riskier and requires more caution. Take a few minutes before leaving to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive.
1. De-Ice And De-Mist
When de-icing and de-misting your car mirrors, it is critical to pay attention to every mirror in your vehicle. Cleaning a small portion of the car’s windscreen is insufficient. You must clean the back window, the front window, and the side windows both inside and out. De-ice and de-mist your wing mirrors as well. All of this contributes to an unobstructed view of the road and a lower risk of being involved in a car accident.
2. Clear The Snow
If you parked your car outside during the night while it was snowing, make sure to remove any snow from the bonnet, roof, or anywhere else the next morning before leaving. Snow falling on your windshield while driving can be extremely dangerous. Even if your visibility is obstructed for a few seconds, the consequences can be disastrous on a cold winter day or night.
3. Examine The Vehicles Lights
Before you begin, make sure that all of the car’s indicators and lights are in good working order. Falling snow, darker days, and fog all contribute to extremely poor visibility for drivers. So, in these conditions, your vehicle’s lights and indicators will assist you in remaining visible on the road by other drivers so that they do not collide with you. Aside from ensuring that they are operational, you should also pay close attention to their cleanliness. If the roads are slushy, you should clean the lights and make sure they work before making any short trips.
These tasks may consume a significant amount of your time, but it is critical that you complete each one thoroughly. You simply cannot afford to skip any of these steps because driving safely in the winter necessitates all of them.
However, if you are involved in an accident despite taking all of these precautionary measures as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to make a personal injury claim.
Car accident claims can be complicated, which is why we at HD Claims are here to help. We will deal with all the legalities for you and get you the compensation you deserve. So contact us and learn more about making a claim for a personal injury.
