Wintertime driving has always been problematic even for experienced drivers due to slippery roads, sub-freezing temperatures, frequent snowfalls and slush-covered roads. But if you have no illusions about wintertime driving you will manage all these difficulties; that’s why it is so important to be aware of typical mistakes drivers are prone to make and myths people often believe in.
Myth Number 1 concerns tires. They say “For I have a studded tire I will drive through any road conditions. I can control my car just like I do it in summertime.”
Studded tire doesn’t mean one hundred percent traction. It delivers better ice traction than it would be otherwise possible, but still it is not as good at dry traction on asphalted surfaces. So the advantage of studs is obvious on ice and snow, but your braking distance on asphalt roads may appear even longer than that of summer tires in the same conditions. Another problem is a human factor. In case of abrupt braking you risk to get a trunk hitting because not everyone on the road equips their vehicles with studded tire.
Myth Number Two: “My car features a powerful engine. So if my brake shoes resting in a hand brake get frozen to a drum I will always be able to break them away by stepping on the gaze. ”
It is highly possible that your engine will be powerful enough to turn the wheels. But if it breaks ice on one wheel’s shoe only it won’t help much. One of the wheels will be skidding on a slippery road while another one will remain frozen. It may well be so that you inflict damage on your braking system by such actions. The moral is that you should lift your hand brake each time in case of long-term parking in wet and damp weather.
Myth Number Three: “There’re ABS, ESP and many other systems in my car to do the driving job. All I have to do is to set a target and step on the gas.”
The presence of various kinds of active safety systems doesn’t abolish main physics laws and principles. What our electronic helpers can do is only to help us control the car but they can by no means guarantee safe driving in any weather conditions at any speed. Many people are assured that Anti-Blockage Braking System can reduce braking distance on slippery roads, but it is not so. It only enhances handling while braking but you should select distance and speed all by yourself.
Myth Number Four: “I always follow the rules and keep safety distance in summer as well as in wintertime.”
Even if you strictly keep to the rules it doesn’t result into ultimate safety unless you learn to predict other drivers’ behavior on slippery roads and in limited space for maneuvering due to snowdrifts at both sides of the road. Sometimes it is better to let somebody drive even if they don’t have an advantage according to the rules than to have an accident and try to get damage compensation. You need also to remember about informal driving rules and help other people in thick traffic conditions.
Myth Number 5: “In winter one has to wash his or her car more often to remove salt, otherwise the car becomes rusty.”
It’s rather a debatable issue. Salt solution speeds up corrosion but only in unsecured areas on the underside. At the same time, if you have your car washed with warm water during frosts, the paint can get damaged and the lockers may get frozen.
Myth Number 6 “I have a powerful heater inside as well as windshield wiper heater. That’s why I can always warm up my windshield. ”
It is not true. Your windshield will be covered with ice that is not easy to remove in case you don’t cool your car after driving. Snow will melt on it thus turning into ice. But if you cool your car, you’ll find your car covered just with snow in the morning and you will remove it without any difficulties.
Myth Number Seven: “My car lockers are equipped with electric drives so they will never get frozen and I won’t need additional time for heating.” Well, it is not infrequent to see a situation when drives work while lockers are frozen.
Myth Number Eight: “Every Saturday I fill up the tank with washing liquid and it’s enough for a week. I don’t need to have an additional supply of liquid during the week.” Wintertime driving is peculiar by mud and slush and salt, so you have to wash your windshield frequently to keep it transparent enough for you to see the road and observe the traffic. You may run out of the liquid much quicker than you expect.
Myth Number Nine: “I have a front-wheel drive vehicle, so it isn’t subject to skidding.” It is really so, the handling on such cars is more reliable, but in case of skidding it is more difficult to stabilize front-wheels than rear-wheels.
Myth Number Ten: “I am a careful driver; I drive slow
ly, so I can’t get into an accident. It is road hogs who should think of wintertime safety.” Still, in wintertime a great number of accidents happen at low speeds, at parking lots or in tough maneuvering conditions.
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