The holiday season is always magical, and it comes alive when it snows. As nice as it is to have a white Christmas, driving can be a real challenge. Fortunately, you can master the roads this season by following some tips for driving in the snow.
Reduce Your Speed When Driving in the Snow
The faster you go on snowy, slushy roads, the harder it’ll be for your tires to gain traction. Thus, give yourself extra time to get to your destination this season. Then you can reduce your speed, so your tires can maintain traction while you’re driving.
Follow at a Greater Distance
Because it’s harder for tires to maintain traction, you need to increase your following distance when driving in the snow. Normally, you should stay about four seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. However, keep your car eight to 10 seconds behind other vehicles when there’s snow and slush on the roads.
Give Yourself Ample Time to Stop
If you slam on the brakes when it’s snowing, your car could skid and even slip off the road. Thus, brake slowly so your tires don’t lose traction.
Handle Slips and Slides With Ease
You also need to avoid slamming on the brakes if you start to slide off the road. Instead, take your foot off the gas as soon as you start losing control. Then pump the brakes if you don’t have an anti-lock braking system. If you do, apply steady pressure to your brake pedal, and the system will do the rest.
Turn on the Headlights
Visibility is lower when driving in the snow, so turn on your headlights. Then you’ll see other cars, and they’ll see you as well. Doing this will reduce the risk of an accident when driving in challenging conditions.
You might also like: Follow These Safety Tips When Putting Up Holiday Lights
Maintain a Half Tank of Gas at All Times
Do you tend to drive until the low fuel light comes on? You’ll want to break that habit during the winter. The cold weather can cause your gas line to freeze if your tank is close to empty. However, you can combat that by always having at least half a tank of gas.
Driving a car with a stability control system can also help you combat snowy weather. Don’t worry if your current vehicle isn’t up to the task. Instead, head over to Berglund Automotive in Roanoke, Virginia. We have vehicles from top manufacturers, including Buick, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln, and Mazda. We can discuss traction and stability control options and help you choose a vehicle that will help you navigate snowy, slushy roads. And we can also go over additional features, such as infotainment systems, safety technology, and more.
Disclaimer: The stock image is being used for illustrative purposes only, and it is not a direct representation of the business, recipe, or activity listed. Any person depicted in the stock image is a model.