Stay safe during these last days of winter driving when you apply these helpful tips
When driving in winter, it’s important to remember what to do — as well as what not to do. With a few more weeks of the season left to go, we thought it’d be a great time to review some common mistakes drivers make when navigating winter weather. Here are five faux pas to avoid as we wrap up these final days of cold-weather driving.
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Stay in the same lane when driving on snowy or icy roads to maximize traction. Only change lanes when you absolutely have to and do it slowly and deliberately to avoid fishtailing.
Adjust the seat to the highest setting that feels comfortable to you. This will give you better visibility of obstacles, whether that be a slushy patch on the road or an accident at an upcoming intersection.
Using cruise control on slick roads
Cruise control is a convenient feature, and safe to use on dry roads. But it’s best to not use it on wintry roads. That’s because the technology can’t sense when a slower speed is necessary for safety, which can result in the vehicle taking a turn too sharply and skidding out of control.
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Getting stuck in a snowbank can be common in winter. One mistake drivers make is to rev the engine and try to power out of the situation. Instead, get out of the car and clear away the snow around the front wheels. And turn off your vehicle’s built-in traction system, if it has one. Next, gently transition between reverse and low-forward gears, keeping wheelspin at a minimum.
Not leveraging your car’s momentum
Know how to use your car’s momentum to your advantage and choose when to stop your car wisely. For instance, avoid braking before a turn, when possible, and just coast through it to prevent fishtailing. And don’t stop in the middle of an incline since this can trigger your vehicle to slide back down the hill.
Whitney Russell is a current resident of Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not adventuring through the exciting world of car news, she can be found hiking with her husband and their two dogs, motorcycling, visiting nephews and nieces, discovering new memes, thrifting, decorating, crafting, woodburning, researching random things, and escaping into a great movie. See more articles by Whitney.
