How to stay safe driving in frost and snow this winter
26th Nov, 2024
Winter weather can bring treacherous conditions to the roads, especially when snow and frost make driving a challenge. That makes it all the more important to take extra care behind the wheel during these cold months – whether you’re commuting to work, running errands, or heading out for a winter getaway. Slippery roads, reduced visibility, and unpredictable weather can all turn a routine drive into a bit of a hair-raising experience, and they’re all known to catch out experienced drivers just as much as newer drivers.
So, from managing slippery corners to maintaining control on icy roads, we’ve got a couple of useful driving strategies tips that will help you stay safe no matter what the weather throws your way – so fingers crossed you won’t need to worry about the risk of scrapping your car!
Adjusting your speed for icy and snowy roads
One of the most important things to remember when driving in winter conditions is to adjust your speed. Icy or snowy roads significantly reduce traction, so that often means you’ll need to drive more slowly than usual. The faster you go, the less time you’ll have to react if something goes wrong, and the harder it will be to stop or steer effectively.
It takes even longer to stop on icy roads, and the risk of skidding increases. You’ll therefore need to drive at a pace that allows you to stop safely if necessary, leaving extra space between your car and others. Don’t forget that when you’re driving through snow, that can make it even harder for your car to maintain speed or traction, so you’ll need to slow down to maintain control and avoid wheel spin.
The best ways to maintain control when steering on slippery surfaces
Slippery surfaces (generally wet or frosty mornings) can be particularly problematic. It’s easy to panic if your car starts to slip while turning a corner – we’ve all done it – but it’s really important to try and stay calm if you can. Oversteering or jerking the wheel can make the situation worse, potentially making you lose even more control.
The main thing to remember is that if you feel the car begin to slide, steer gently into the direction of the skid – however counterintuitive that might seem. This technique, fairly unimaginatively known as “steering into the skid,” helps you regain control by guiding the car back in the right direction. For example, if the back of your car begins to slide left, steer left to correct the movement. As we’ve touched on above, you’ll need to avoid overreacting with sharp turns or harsh movements, as these can worsen the slip.
Understeering is also a very real danger – this is when the front wheels lose grip and the car doesn’t turn as much as you’d like. To tackle that issue, ease off the accelerator gently and avoid slamming on the brakes. Generally, reducing your speed like this will allow the tyres to regain traction, giving you better control. Once the car has stabilised, you can resume steering more confidently.
How to navigate hills and slopes in winter weather
Driving up and down hills during the winter can be particularly tricky, as snow and ice reduce the amount of grip your tyres have on the road. If you’re heading uphill, you’ll need to adjust your approach to avoid losing momentum or getting stuck. The best approach when driving uphill in snow or ice, believe it or not, is to maintain a steady speed. Try to avoid stopping, as restarting on a steep incline can be difficult. Lower gears can be useful here, as they can help you to increase engine power and help your tyres maintain traction.
On downhill sections, make sure to use your gears to control your speed, rather than relying on heavy braking. If you’re driving a manual car, downshift to a lower gear before starting the descent. This helps the engine slow the car down naturally. If you’re driving an automatic, select a lower gear or use the “manual” mode if your car has one. This technique reduces the likelihood of your wheels locking up and losing control.
How to use your gears effectively in winter driving
Choosing the right gear is always crucial to minimise the wear on your engine. However, it’s particularly important when driving in winter conditions, as it becomes an actual safety issue – it can make the difference between keeping control or losing traction. In manual cars, lower gears provide more control, especially on slippery or hilly roads. This is especially important when driving in snow or on ice, as it helps your car maintain power and prevent wheel spin.
In automatic cars, you might not have as much control over gear selection, but many cars offer a “winter” or “manual” mode that uses lower gears to improve traction. Make sure not to over-rev the engine, as this can cause your tyres to spin and lose grip on the road. Adjusting your gears properly allows your car to respond better to changes in terrain or weather conditions, making driving much safer.
Those are all our top tips – you may well discover even more that work for you! And of course, when the day finally comes that you don’t think your car will manage to make it through the winter at all, that’s exactly what we’re here for at Scrap Car Network. All you need to do is enter your car reg and postcode into the fields on our site, and we’ll get you an instant online quote before you can say cash for cars – and all at the very best prices. It only takes a few seconds. Curious to find out how much your car is worth?
