For southerners, winter is a season to look forward to because it makes the weather more bearable. But for northerners, it’s something to brace oneself for. Winter brings all kinds of troubles, from the extreme cold killing lawns and gardens to heavy snow breaking roof gutters. It can also be hazardous for motorists as snow and ice can turn roads into ice rinks. Ram dealers in Deming, NM list some winter driving mistakes to avoid.
Driving at normal speed
The minimum and maximum speed you can go when driving a sedan or compact vehicle vary from road to road. If you’re driving on a rural interstate highway, you can go from 45 mph to 70 mph. On any other road, you must slow down and keep your speed below 65 mph. However, these limits only apply to normal conditions. It’s slightly different during winter and when the roads are covered with ice or snow. You must slow down a bit to avoid losing grip on the road.
Driving for fun
Another common mistake many motorists make is underestimating winter road hazards. They think they’ve been driving long enough not to be scared of small skids and slides. In truth, avoiding driving in winter is not being scared but being careful. If you have nothing important to do outside, stay home to avoid adding to the daily winter-driving accident statistics. Ram dealers in Deming, NM suggest only driving when necessary, like when you need to buy supplies, go to work, or during an emergency.
Stab braking for too long
Skidding and sliding are common occurrences on roads during winter since the lack of traction makes it hard to steer. If you lose stability and are at risk of sliding off course, press the brake pedal hard until the wheels lock up. Then, release it and observe how quickly your vehicle is decelerating. If you need to stab the brake again, repeat the process until your car slows down to a safe speed. Don’t press on the brake pedal for too long, or it will only make your car slide faster and farther.
Not using winter tires
This should be a no-brainer, but let’s put it here to remind those who forgot to replace their old tires last fall. If you haven’t done pre-winter maintenance, include this on your checklist. You’re supposed to use thicker tires with more tread to handle icy or snowy roads better. Unfortunately, keeping your old, scuffed tires without retreading them is a recipe for disaster. Not only do they lack enough tread to cause traction on the road, but they are also at risk of a blowout.
Keeping normal distance
Drivers must always maintain at least a three-second distance from the vehicle they are following. There’s a formula for calculating the ideal following distance but if you find that too complicated, remember the minimum. Then add one second every time you accelerate. But, like the speed limit, this only applies to normal road conditions. For example, when dealing with black ice, you should be at least three cars behind the vehicle you are following to avoid being rear-ended.
Being a responsible driver transcends driving sober, not texting while driving, or following the speed limits. You should also recognize climate-related dangers and prepare for them ahead of time. Maintaining your vehicle before winter is one way to ensure you won’t have transportation issues throughout winter. Check out Viva CDJRF for more helpful tips.
