Winter Driving Tips – Driving on Ice and Snow

Winter driving tips.

Driving on snow and ice

Driving on snow and ice is best avoided, but if you rely on your car to get you to work, or like me your car is your office you should prepare yourself for winter driving.

1, When driving in snow if your car is manual, pull away in second gear, all first gear will do is spin your wheels increasing your chances of getting stuck, if in a car with automatic transmission put your car into drive and let it begin to roll forward and accelerate gently.

2, Tire deflation, many people don’t do this, however this is a amazingly simple trick for driving on wintery roads. The average car tire runs about 30psi, if you let your tires down to about 12-15psi you have more rubber touching the road and much more grip. It is very important to remember and re-inflate your tires as soon as the road conditions improve, and with your tire pressures so low you don’t want to exceed 25-30mph.

3, if your in a rush, forget it, rushing about on a snowy or icy roads leads to many accidents if you have to use your brakes be very gentle, in a manual, downshifting can help regulate your speed, stay steady and allow plenty of time.

4, Stay flat, avoid routes with any steep gradients on the way up the hill you risk getting stuck and on the downward sections you risk losing control and crashing.

5, Stay well equipped, I have learned from experience its always best to prepare for the worst. I have a small Box in my garage which is full of things which I find are essential when traveling in winter. I normally carry this for the worst 3 months of winter it contains collapseable shovel, spare clothes, energy drink, sleeping bag/blanket, chocolate, emergency phone, first aid kit and a wind up torch radio among other things.