With the onset of winter, many female car enthusiasts, andespecially beginners, prefer to park their cars for a long winter. It is necessary to remember all the charm of trips on public transport. Of course, the fear of losing control and getting into an accident can force you to travel in crowded subway cars and cramped minibuses. In addition, public transport does not always run regularly, and waiting for it at stops blown by all the winds is not a pleasant experience at all. It becomes clear that mastering driving a car in winter is vitally important, and not as difficult as it may seem. If this is your first winter on wheels, you should learn a few simple rules to avoid or minimize "winter" troubles.
Cooking the car
It's no secret that by winter the carneed to be prepared. The serviceability of the car determines how successfully you will be able to cope with the difficulties and peculiarities of winter roads. In our country, they resemble a testing ground for extreme driving even in summer, and even more so in winter, since for road services, winter always unexpectedly happens at the very beginning of December. Therefore, it is best to go to a service station. There they will change your oil and brake fluid, check the battery and the main components of the car, change the water in the windshield washer to "antifreeze", change the antifreeze in case of severe frosts and, of course, replace the tires with winter, studded ones. By the way, the spare wheel should also be shod with winter tires. In no case do not listen to numerous girlfriends and unscrupulous consultants in the auto store, advising you to buy a set of all-season tires. Any professional driver will tell you that there are two types of tires - winter and summer. And they need to be changed according to the season. Don't neglect visiting a service station or put it off until the last minute. In order not to stand around waiting for your turn for service when the first snow falls, it's best to agree on a time in advance when you'll bring your car.
Winter driving lessons
Some girls before the onset of wintergo to various driving schools that promise to teach driving in extreme conditions. But what if you don’t have any extra money, but you need to learn how to drive a car in winter? You don’t want to train, as they say, in “combat” conditions and in real time, risking your own safety and the safety of numerous drivers and pedestrians! Many driving school instructors advise: before you start driving in conditions that are unusual for you (on icy roads, on wet asphalt or on a snowy road), it is vital to practice and “feel” how the car behaves. That is, to feel how you control your car in these conditions. It is best if an experienced driver helps you learn how to drive in winter. A father, a boyfriend, a friend or a brother. Do not hesitate to ask for help and advice. First, watch how your volunteer teacher performs maneuvers and ask for an explanation if you do not understand something. And only then get behind the wheel to repeat the lesson. An improvised training ground can be the nearest vacant lot or a dead-end exit, a place where there is no risk of causing an accident or hitting a pedestrian. These lessons are necessary not only from the point of view of acquiring practical skills, but also as psychological training. They will help you feel more confident behind the wheel, improve your reaction and give you the opportunity to get rid of fears of winter roads, if any. As auxiliary means, you can take with you several empty canisters. They will be useful to you as chips. You will be able to master the movement between obstacles forward or backward, as well as practice braking in front of an obstacle. A light canister will not damage your car, but you will be able to feel the collision quite well. And be sure to take a shovel with you. It will come in handy when you master driving out of a snowdrift.
Secrets of Mastery, or All That Is Brilliant - Traffic Rules
You already have a car and you should knowits features, since on a winter road front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive cars "behave" differently. For example, if a front-wheel drive car skids, you should never release the gas pedal. By doing so, you will provoke a spin. On the contrary, you need to add gas. If a rear-wheel drive car skids, the steering wheel should be turned in the direction of the skid and the brake should be completely released at the first moment. And if you fail to straighten the car, then you need to turn the hood of the car at 90 degrees towards the side of the road, so that in the event of "going" into a ditch, the car buries its nose in the snow, and does not flip over onto its roof. If your car has all-wheel drive, then you need to release the gas and steer. All-wheel drive cars have better traction. A manual transmission, if you are good at it, gives much more opportunities for the correct maneuver during a skid than an automatic one. When driving downhill or uphill on icy roads, take advantage of the car's inertia. Before going uphill, speed up a little, otherwise the car may get stuck, and no studs will save you from that. When driving downhill, you need to slow down. But never press the brakes abruptly. It is better to go downhill in a lower gear so that the car moves "under tension". And under no circumstances go downhill in neutral or by coasting. In case of danger, when every millisecond counts, you simply will not have enough time to react and do something. Let us remind you that in winter, the optimal number of steering wheel movements per second is four. Try to bring them to automatism, without making unnecessary movements, but also without freezing with your hands clasped on the steering wheel. If you get stuck in deep snow and the car gets stuck, do not allow the wheels to slip. It is best to get out of the snow by rocking, "playing" with the gas pedal. Otherwise, you will get stuck forever.
Slow and steady wins the race
If you decide you've trained enoughin safe places, and you are going to move around the city on your own, you should remember that driving techniques in winter should always be based on a few simple rules:
- Do not make any sudden movements.Sharp movements while driving a car are dangerous at any time of the year. And in winter they can lead to irreparable consequences. Therefore, try to do everything smoothly: turn the steering wheel, press the brake, the gas pedal, in the case of a manual transmission - change gears and squeeze the clutch.
- Observe the speed limit established on this or that section of the road. Be sure to pay attention to the time signs of speed limits.
- No excessive self-confidence. Even if you think that extreme driving courses give you this right.
- Increase the distance prescribed in the rulestwo, and best of all - three times. This will give you room to maneuver, since even with complete confidence in your own reaction, you cannot vouch for the skill of other road users.
- There is no dry road in frost. And therefore, even if the asphalt is dry under the wheels at this very moment, do not rush to pick up speed - you have no guarantee that in 500 meters there will be no ice on the road.
- Be especially careful before the crossroads,even if the traffic light is green. It is in these places that the ice is particularly slippery due to the constant braking of numerous machines. Before such places, it is best to drop the speed in advance.
- No unnecessary rebuilding. Forget about them for the winter. In advance, rearrange to the leftmost row, if you need to turn left or to the far right, if to the right. Do not do this just before the turn.
- Always keep the "ice-free" in reserve, even if you have a full tank. You never know when it will end.
So, the main rule of driving techniqueof a car in winter is reasonable. Do not forget the words known to all motorists: "The slower you go, the further you will get." Let them become your golden rule, and then winter driving will give you as much pleasure as driving at any other time of the year. We recommend reading:
