Driving a car in winter is significantly different from driving in summer. Ice and snow, short daylight hours and drifts do not bring additional convenience behind the wheel. If the weather is too unfavorable, try to refrain from traveling, but if you still have to get behind the wheel, then, following certain rules, the day behind the wheel will be favorable.
Before starting to move the car, determine how strong the grip of the wheels is with the road in order to provide how the car can behave during road maneuvers, sudden braking or acceleration. Naturally, this should be done not on the roadway, but on a traffic-free section of the path, for example, in the courtyard. Drive onto the roadway with extreme caution to get an idea of the condition of the road surface. We start moving so that the first circle of wheels does not slip. Swing the car forward slightly and only then gently press the gas pedal. On the “automatic machine” this is done by switching the lever from N to position D without pressing the gas, then the car will start smoothly. If the wheels start to slip, then turn off the gas and try again. Carefully drive out so that the car does not move sharply to the side, in order to avoid a possible collision with other participants.
The speed of the car in winter should be as safe as possible so that it is possible to make a sharp maneuver. On a slippery road, even a safe 60 kilometers per hour can cause an accident. It is better to move slowly but surely.
When moving in traffic, do not forget to keep your distance. Remember that the braking distance on a difficult road increases almost 2 times, therefore it is better to keep the distance between cars longer than usual. Even if you have studded tires and all kinds of electrical safety systems, but if the car in front suddenly turns around, then you will have to quickly be able to stop or slow down.
On a slippery road, drivers very often slam on the brakes, while forgetting that in this way the car can quickly lose control and it will “drive ” to the side.” In this case, it is more appropriate to apply intermittent braking: release and press the brake several times. ABS works in approximately this mode, which will add stability to your car.
Everything is more or less clear with traffic, but it is also possible to get stuck on the road. If you have mechanics, then try not to gas on the spot – you will dig in even more. It is better to rock the car back and forth. Sometimes it is necessary to push the car slightly, and it will get out. Be sure to carry a shovel in the trunk, if there is a lot of snow, try to dig out a stalled wheel. Check if the car has “sat down” in the snow with the bottom, if so, then clean the space under the car. Clean the small tracks under the wheels in front and behind, then drive out of the snow captivity with swinging movements. It would be nice to put sand or gravel under the wheels. With the “automatic” it is a little harder to get out, since it does not switch speeds from position D to R too quickly and vice versa. To rock the car, you need to control the brake with your left foot and the gas with your right, and try to rock the car by switching positions D and R as well. This is done so that the car cannot roll down while you move your right foot from the gas to the brake.
The unpredictability of winter roads lies in the fact that it is difficult to guess what they will be like after a while. You can drive along a snow-covered road, after a while you will get snow porridge and slush, which will be replaced by ice. On the road, try to choose a place where your wheels have something to “catch on”: a worn track, rolled snow or unsweetened ice. It is necessary to assess and, if possible, be able to predict changes in road conditions. With warming, the melted snow will gradually evaporate, but if there is a slight frost outside and at the same time drizzling rain, then the road will be smooth as a mirror. It is better to refuse a trip along such a road, if possible. Even for a driver with more experience, it will be much more difficult and dangerous to move around. Be careful and attentive so that winter trips are safe.
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